The past two weeks have been filled with celebrations and affirmations.

Our National Heroes’ Day honours and awards saw outstanding Jamaicans being conferred with the Order of Jamaica (OJ), including my friends and colleagues: Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, business leader Gary “Butch” Hendrickson, Jamaica’s Ambassador to the USA Audrey Marks, and GraceKennedy CEO Senator Donald Wehby. We also celebrated Minna Israel, who was vested with the Order of Distinction Commander class.

Ambassador Marks introduced a top Marriott executive to Denis O’Brien, who she had invited to talk business with leading US entrepreneurs. In short order, there was a Marriott built next door to the Digicel Haiti office and two others in Kingston.

Ambassador Marks knows how to talk business because she has been a serial entrepreneur, carving a path that has inspired her fellow Jamaicans to step out into the world of business. She created Paymaster, the bill payment company, now a ubiquitous presence, which was later bought by Digicel. Her monthly Diaspora meetings are rich with stories of Jamaican excellence throughout the US. She is one of Jamaica’s finest cheerleaders, warm-hearted, and professional.

Butch Hendrickson has been described as “a philanthropist in a league of his own”. His early childhood education programme had his staff closing their packing operations at National Baking Company to prepare over 2,500 learning kits annually. He sponsored “The Bold Ones of Manufacturing”, showcasing the products of small manufacturers on the sides of his National Baking Company trucks. Spur Tree Spices co-founder Mohan Jagnarine said because of this award he kept pushing, as he did not want to disappoint Butch. The rest is history.

Hendrickson recently donated US$1 million in scholarships for teacher training in STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) at The University of the West Indies and promotes volunteerism as chairman of the Council of Voluntary Social Services (CVSS).

Minister Bartlett has received many international awards for his achievements as minister of tourism. Last year he shared with us his contribution to a publication in which he discussed Jamaica’s creation of a Tourism Resilience Programme in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I presented it at the UN,” he said then, “and before I was finished the endorsements were coming in from other countries, and at the end 94 countries were signatories for what Jamaica has given to the world.”

Senator Don Wehby has piloted the GraceKennedy Group to become a multi-billion-dollar international business. Dedicated to national service, we recall his secondment from GraceKennedy to serve in the finance ministry. When we worked on projects for the group, we noted his regular meetings with young IT experts, always ahead of his time. Wehby embraced our suggestion of awards for household workers and ensured that they were treated like royalty in the series of events.

Israel was a well-respected banker and now serves on several blue-chip Jamaican boards. She balances her business savvy with a warm and supportive manner. A former president of the International Women’s Forum (IWF) Jamaica chapter, she was awarded by the organisation for her shining leadership. Our IWF sisters agree she is one of the most loyal friends we could ever have.

Kudos also to the wonderful Nadine Sutherland, who continues to delight audiences worldwide.

Congratulations to the other excellent Jamaicans who were honoured, including the other recipients of the OJ: Professor Wendel Abel, Dr Horace Chang, former Clarendon Custos William Shagoury, and Lyttleton “Tanny” Shirley. Our national honorees remind us that we have the power to overcome our challenges.

Finally, hope for the elderly

It was with great joy that CCRP greeted the Senate’s unanimous approval of a motion by Senator Dr Floyd Morris, supported by Senator Sherene Golding Campbell, who will chair a bipartisan select committee to advance the cause of protecting the elderly. CCRP and the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) have been receiving complaints about elderly abuse physical, mental, financial, sexual and neglect. It is unimaginable that some of these vulnerable citizens have had such nightmarish experiences.

For nearly 10 years we have been advocating, with attorneys-at-law directors, Ambassador Aloun Assamba and Peter Mais, as well as Member Gloria Langrin assisting with correspondence and research. We look forward to regular inspections, up-to-date registration of care homes, campaigns for families and community support of the elderly, and strong penalties for offenders.

Ministerial changes

Congratulations to Fayval Williams who will succeed Dr Nigel Clarke as minister of finance and the public service. Minister Williams had served as a state minister in the finance ministry and established her reputation as a woman of integrity. This reputation followed her to the Ministry of Education and Youth where she marshalled our system through the challenging pandemic years.

Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon, minister without portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for information, skills, and digital transformation, was appointed minister of education, skills, youth and information.

She moved up the ranks to become a senior executive at JN Group. When she was seconded to the Bank of Jamaica, she played the lead role in completing the 2021 National Risk Assessment.

As she looks forward to her new role, Minister Dixon has stressed the importance of every child becoming literate and numerate and addressing education for special needs children.

Congratulations also to Matthew Samuda, now Member of Parliament, for his victory in the St Ann North Eastern constituency, who will return to the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation.

Rising above party politics, let us applaud these highly qualified and diligent ministers and be supportive of the challenges that they prepare to tackle on our behalf.

Family celebrations

Our family observed milestone birthday celebrations for my husband and business partner Hubie Chin and retired Scotiabank Manager Patrick Chin.

Hubie returned to his alma mater, St George’s College (STGC), where he had led its victorious Colts Football Team, to support its football programme. Family and friends reflected on Hubie’s quiet brilliance and kindness. We thank STGC Chair Father Rohan Tulloch, Acting Principal Suzette Mullings-Douglas, and Vice-Principal Huntley Anderson for their hospitality, and emcee Tony Lowrie.

Patrick’s 80th birthday celebration was a veritable family reunion. His football prowess and popularity as a former Scotiabank manager were lauded. With wife Enid, of blessed memory, he has raised a loving family and enjoy a wide circle of friends, who expressed their gratitude for his support. Emcee Rion Hall led the proceedings.

Jean Lowrie-Chin is an author and founder of PROComm and CCRP. Send comments to lowriechin@aim.com.

Minna Israel

Audrey Marks with her nephew Nieco Marks (Garfield Robinson)

Don Wehby