As Jamaicans in the US nervously await their fate under the upcoming Donald Trump presidency, our citizens here may be exploring their options — the US may not be as attractive as it used to be for people of colour. What an opportunity this could be for our country if our young professionals look to building their future here.

Government and private sector can fuel their ambitions through tax breaks, mentorship, and scholarships. We are seeing complaints online about service at Students’ Loan Bureau and the burden of loan repayment. Beneficiaries note that they have to migrate in order to stay current.

Some schools have given exceptional teachers special benefits. More needs to be done to keep them here. With good teachers we will have promising young graduates, a boon for national development. The opportunity for free training at HEART/NSTA towards certification in skills should be embraced by our people.

Through the American Friends of Jamaica, more successful Jamaicans in the Diaspora have been supporting our programmes. I believe we may be getting greater attention from the Diaspora, who may be dreaming of the day when they can return to a more harmonious environment in their homeland. It was interesting to see how many young people of Jamaican parentage were gathered at the Jamaican Consulate in New York last year to acquire Jamaican citizenship. On their visits here, they may have discerned that Jamaica is the most racially harmonious country in the world.

However, we cannot look at Jamaica through rose-coloured glasses. If we want to make our country the place to live, work, raise families, do business, and retire comfortably, we need to address calls for better roads, security, justice, health services, and ease of doing business. Our government ministers are trying to balance their job demands and campaigns for next year’s general election. My Dad used to tell us, “Your performance is your best advertisement.” Use more time for delivering results and then publicise them. My friend, Member of Parliament Annmarie Vaz does this well — check her social media posts.

Let us count our blessings, Jamaica, and multiply them to future-proof our country.

POST-ELECTIONS BLUES

Expectations were high for a Kamala Harris victory and many Jamaicans are experiencing post-US elections blues. As they say, hindsight is 20-20 vision, and so the arguments continue about what went wrong. There is the feeling that ‘wokeness’ may have blinkered the campaign to the issues facing the Donald Trump ‘MAGA’ followers. There was also the view that having seen the poll that the majority of Americans were for reproductive rights, emphasis should have been placed on their support for unions and their economic gains.

However, while I believe that Harris ran a brilliant campaign and was deserving of victory, the comments post-elections lead me to believe that racism and misogyny were the sad factors that led to her defeat. Steeped in the image of the successful, white business mogul portrayed by Trump in
The Apprentice series, the US electorate reminded us that, as our lecturer Dr Patricia Anderson averred, to be a woman and to be black is double jeopardy.

HOME, SWEET HOME

Mavadeen Aldred, a courageous mother of three, decided she could take no more domestic abuse, even if it meant huddling in one room at a friend’s house with her mother and children. She applied to Food For the Poor Jamaica and was fortunate to be chosen for a home sponsored by Marubeni Power Company. Last month, the company’s representatives assisted in painting the house before handing over the keys to the grateful Aldred, cradling her one-year-old child, in Victoria District, Linstead.

An emotional Aldred toured the two-bedroom house, which has a concrete foundation and an open concept plan. Both the kitchen and bathroom have modern fixtures, and there is a 300-gallon septic tank, a 200-gallon water tank, a mini solar panel lighting system, and gutters for water harvesting.

Damian Obiglio, senior vice-president, Marubeni Power International Inc, noted at the handover: “When it comes to harmony, there is no better place to develop this than in the home. A loving home is the foundation of harmony. It is a place to build family values, a place to study, a place to rest.” Senior executives of Marubeni Power Keisuke Harada and Takuya Kokawa joined the Food For the Poor Jamaica team led by Executive Director Kivette Silvera and Marsha Burrell-Rose, development and marketing manager.

HOTEL WORKERS PROTEST

There were two protests by hotel workers recently over low wages and benefits. The Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA) wrote in a statement last Friday: “We are firstly pleased to see that in both cases the workers have, with the intervention of the ministries of labour and tourism, found sufficient reassurances to return to work. That said, we acknowledge the need for ongoing dialogue and understanding between tourism employers and their valued workers.”

With these challenges, and those of the past, the JHTA is forming a working committee to produce recommendations for the sector. An enhanced system of communication will help to promote greater understanding and appreciation of our diligent hotel workers.

HEALTH PLANS

Minister of Culture, Entertainment and Sports Olivia “Babsy” Grange recently announced that her ministry will be offering health plans for entertainers. This is welcome news as we have seen too many of our talented Jamaicans being faced with serious health challenges and low funds.

Ewan Simpson, chair of the board for the Jamaica Reggae Industry Association (JaRIA), noted that the premium for this plan is being fully paid by the ministry and called for an option in which entertainers can participate by paying for upgrades to the plan for greater coverage. The minister said such artistes may request additional plans from their partner, Guardian Insurance.

BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH

As I looked through the pages of the Bethel Baptist Church 70th anniversary publication I could see the gospel of faith and service come alive during the church’s history. Starting in the home of Southern Baptist ministers, the McCullochs, where 15 youngsters met to worship and do
Bible study, the church has grown into one of the largest congregations in the Caribbean.

The church has seen to the spirit, mind, and body of congregants and the less fortunate. Through the work of Deacon Dr Anthony Allen, the church’s Healing Ministry includes a medical clinic, pharmacy, lunch ministry, health fairs, and a bereavement group. The Bethel Baptist Church Thrift Cooperative Society provides facilities for savings and loans while they also have active youth activities and hygiene facilities for street people.

In 2021 the church acquired premises at Ellesmere Road in Half-Way-Tree to accommodate their expanding facilities for worship and outreach. The history prepared by Deacon Hillory “Pam” Kelly was enlightening and inspiring.

A Happy Anniversary to the Bethel Baptist Church, shining God’s light to all around them.

Jean Lowrie-Chin is a poet, author, communications expert, and seniors advocate. Send comments to the Jamaica Observer or lowriechin@aim.com.

Mavadeen Aldred (with baby) gives a thumbs up as she stands in front of her new home in Victoria District, St Catherine. With her (from left) are Marubeni Power Executive Keisuke Harada, VP of Marubeni Power Damian Obiglio, CEO of Food for the Poor Jamaica Kivette Silvera, and Marubeni Executive Takuya Kokawa.