Jamaica has been wisely restrained during the recent news from the US regarding closures, deportations, and tariffs. We welcomed Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness’s message to prospective returnees to Jamaica — they have a home here as citizens of our country.

Our collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) had been focused on development and education, projects that we understand can still attract assistance from the US State Department. In response to the recent announcement of tariffs, our Government’s word to concerned exporters was that it would initiate talks with the US Government.

We hope for a positive outcome, having enjoyed cordial relations with the US, thanks to Foreign Affairs Minister Kamina Johnson Smith, former US Ambassador Audrey Marks, and the brilliant team at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade led by Ambassador Sheila Sealy Monteith.

The recent American Friends of Jamaica (AFJ) Hummingbird Gala reflected the supportive relationship which endures between our two countries. In the presence of Prime Minister Holness, the AFJ recognised Elias “Lee” Issa with its International Achievement Award and Paul Issa with its International Humanitarian Award. They were described as “two Jamaican-born iconic leaders: one a stalwart in tourism and the other a trailblazing humanitarian”.

The AFJ, comprising current and former US ambassadors and friends, announced grants totalling US$740,000, which were awarded to 54 grantees to support several initiatives here. These include education, music, sports, homelessness, health, skills training, gender-based violence, arts, coding, veterinary care, environmental protection, school-feeding and peace-building programmes, among others.

Grant certificates were presented last Tuesday at the US Embassy here in Kingston. In a Jamaica Information Service report, writer Judana Murphy quoted Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information Dana Morris Dixon, who addressed the event: “For over four decades, the American Friends of Jamaica have remained a pillar of support for our country. Their legacy is etched into the walls of our hospitals, the classrooms of our schools, and the hearts of our people. Whether responding to hurricanes, expanding educational opportunities, or modernising public health infrastructure, the AFJ has consistently shown up for us.”

Charge d’Affaires Amy Tachco also remarked on the “generosity and dedication” of the AFJ, which has been supporting Jamaica’s non-governmental organisations with millions of US dollars since 1982.

Whether or not we agree with the current political situation in the US, let us remember that we are intrinsically joined through family and friends and applaud our diplomatic ties.

RED BULL BOOSTS YOUNG ATHLETES

Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) President Garth Gayle recently announced that Jamaica’s young athletes can now benefit from the elite services offered at the Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre (APC), both overseas and locally, through a partnership between the JAAA and Red Bull. This collaboration marks the company’s investment in the development of Jamaica’s Under-18 and Under-20 national teams, giving them access to world-class resources, including physiotherapy, strength and conditioning, performance assessments, medical services, and rehabilitation.

“Red Bull is proud to be working with the JAAA, our first athletics federation partner globally,” said Marc-Oliver Kochan, managing director, Red Bull Athlete Performance Centre. “Jamaica’s track and field legacy is world-renowned, and we are looking forward to supporting the next generation of young athletes on their journey. We are really excited to help them realise their dreams and provide them with the tools, services, and support they need — not just to succeed in sport, but also in life.”

Gayle noted: “This sponsorship will allow the JAAA to provide a holistic programme, stay on track with the important components for their well-being and consistent performance. This is one of the objectives of the JAAA, and this level of support will ensure that no young athlete will be left behind.”

Red Bull Athlete Performance Programme representatives Dr Helge Ripenot, medical doctor; Peter Muller, head of therapy; and Fionn MacPartlin, head of strength training, also attended the recent boys’ and girls’ high school championships. It must have made them happy that our amazing young athletes will receive the expert assistance of their APC.

CCRP’S 15TH ANNIVERSARY

On Sunday, April 20 the seniors advocacy organisation Caribbean Community of Retired Persons (CCRP) will celebrate its 15th anniversary. After the 30th anniversary of our company, PROComm, in 2009, I considered who had helped me along my journey and realised they were seniors, including my mother, Maisie Lowrie, who was our first investor and supported us throughout the years. In gratitude, I decided that I would start an organisation to advocate for our underserved seniors.

Our initial collaborators were my husband Hubie Chin; Ambassador Aloun Assamba, who donated all the legal work, registering the organisation, and preparing our articles of incorporation; J Lester Spaulding, late chair of the RJRGleaner Communications Group, who set up our accounting system; Professor Sir Kenneth Hall, our honorary director; and Professor Denise Eldemire Shearer, our honorary chair. We thank our patron, Governor General Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen, for hosting our first media event at which the late Oliver Clarke registered to be our first member. Now we are over 12,000 members strong.

We are blessed with excellent board directors: Vilma McDonald, director emerita; Ambassador Aloun Assamba; Patricia Reid-Waugh; Marlene Street Forrest; Dr Owen James; Dennis Jones; Sethuraman Kumaraswamy; Warren McDonald; Peter Mais; and Donovan Wignal. We recently appointed Angela Patterson as our general manager, supported by the PROComm team.

CCRP’s voluntary regional convenors are Patricia Blackwood, central Jamaica; Dr Norma Taylor, western Jamaica; and Pixley Irons, north-east Jamaica. Our Caring Committee chair is Moveta Munroe and former chairs are Irene Walter and Verla Seymour. The committee comprises our parish representatives, who assist in our outreach to the needy elderly. Our excursions, planned by Charmaine Harrison, are hugely popular, they help our members, in the words of our motto, to live ‘Life to the Fullest’.

We thank our over 100 discount partners and top sponsors JN General Insurance, National Baking, BPM Financial, Juici Jamaica, Supreme Ventures, Cari-Med Group, Sandals Group, Sterling Asset Management, WIHCON, Sagicor, Gallagher Insurance Brokers, and Morgan White Insurance.

We congratulate senators Floyd Morris and Sherene Golding-Campbell for taking the motion for legislation for the care and protection of the elderly to an active special select committee of Parliament, which has been holding hearings on the matter. CCRP has made a comprehensive submission to the committee, and we are optimistic that this legislation will soon become a reality.

Jean Lowrie-Chin is an author and executive chair of PROComm, PRODEV, and CCRP.

Andrew Holness (Philp Lemonte)

Audrey Marks

Dr Dana Morris Dixon (Joseph Wellington)

American Friends of Jamaica honoured Elias “Lee” Issa and Paul Issa recently.