A great sadness overcame Jamaica last week with news that Don Wehby, innovative fomer CEO of the GraceKennedy (GK) Group, had passed away.

Wehby took GK to record-breaking heights during his 30 years in senior roles in the company. His leadership extended to his service on several boards and his enthusiastic support of the development of industry and commerce, athletics, and the horse racing industry. A keen nationalist, he went on secondment to serve at the Ministry of Finance and Planning, effecting steps in governance, including calling for separation of the powers of governorship and chairmanship at the Bank of Jamaica.

Wehby and his wife, Hilary, were teenagers when they met and have remained a close and supportive couple all their lives together. While recovering from a stroke, she authored My New Normal — Reflections of a Stroke Survivor, much to the delight of her dear husband, chief cheerleader at the launch of her insightful and now popular book.

No doubt Wehby’s humility developed during his St George’s College (STGC) journey, where they were guided by the school’s motto, ‘Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam’ (To the greater glory of God). There he brought home gold and silver in the 400 metre hurdles at the boys’ athletics championship (Champs). It was a privilege to have served with him on the STGC school board, listening to his wise counsel, and seeing his generous outreach. He was also a faithful supporter of the boys’ and girls’ athletics championships.

Shirley Pryce

Our agency collaborated with GK for the Household Workers Competition, and Wehby treated the nominees like royalty. Founder of the Household Workers’ Union Shirley Pryce noted, “We at the Jamaica Household Workers’ Union are deeply saddened to hear about the death of Mr Wehby. A champion supporter of our organisation for decades, his dedication, passion, and generosity have made a lasting impact on our mission and the lives of all domestic workers and by extension low-income workers…Sir Wehby’s legacy will definitely inspire us to continue the important work he and GraceKennedy supported. We love you in life, we love you in death.”

Meanwhile, the prime minister, the leader of the Opposition, the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, the horse racing industry, and Jamaicans from every walk of life have been expressing their sorrow at his passing, a Jamaican whose legacy challenges us to step up in service and integrity.

Our deepest condolence to his beloved Hilary, family, and colleagues. May his great soul rest in peace.

Big 50 for Natalie

Natalie Thompson

This column has lauded Jamaica’s godmother of film, Natalie Thompson, whose company, Cinecom, celebrated its 50th anniversary last Saturday.

So here is this strong Jamaican lady who has led the Jamaican production teams for such hits as Cool Runnings, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, No Time to Die (the latest James Bond movie), and Bob Marley: One Love. Such productions require personnel of up to 300 and she plays these productions like a well-tuned violin.

Thompson had shared that when she was called by a Hollywood casting director to find an older Jamaican woman for a movie he was filming, she made a beeline to the home of the late Lois Kelly-Miller who readily accepted the part to share screen magic with Brad Pitt in Meet Joe Black (there are excerpts on YouTube in which Pitt does a passable Jamaican patois). She was the local producer for Instinct starring Sir Anthony Hopkins who she recalls as a “very cool gentleman” who enjoyed local fare.

For Cool Runnings, she said, “I named this movie although I was never credited with it. The original name was Blue Maaga, which was the name of a fish and the name of the bobsled cart that was originally used. I told them I thought it meant what happened to black people when it got too cold. Of course, Dawn Steel, the producer, was horrified by that analogy and asked me what I would call it and I said, Cool Runnings. I did not know that the name would stay until the movie opened.”

No wonder then that the setting at Hope Zoo’s Serengeti was magical, with her family and friends sharing the joy and pride of the journey started by the intrepid Thompson when she was only 23 years old. Our shop enjoyed working with Cinecom on such popular ads as Lasco Mackerel and the Electoral Office of Jamaica ad featuring Jimmy Cliff’s Wonderful World, Beautiful People.

Thompson’s start-up was supported by her late parents and brother Anton. As she talked about the hills and valleys of her journey, I remember being in our classroom together when our Convent of Mercy Academy “Alpha” principal, Sister Mary Bernadette, told us: “You are a powerful class. I want you to think big!” Clearly her message hit home. Congratulations, Natalie, you are a powerful success!

Spirited Emancipation Lecture

Dr L’Antoinette Stines, founder of the distinguished dance company, L’Acadco, delivered a spirited Emancipation lecture last Sunday at Boulevard Baptist Church. She invoked the creativity of Jamaica’s ancestors as they welcomed Emancipation with the Bruckins dance, engaging the shoulders to symbolise the breaking of the chains of slavery. She gave thanks for Olive Lewin, Alma Mock Yen, Rex Nettleford, Jackie Guy who took Kumina to England, and, yes, Bogle.

She took the audience on the sad journey of the enslaved who sang “Bury mi head but nuh bury mi foot” as they believed that would help them to walk back to the homeland. The L’Acadco dancers demonstrated the series of movements. She noted that
Bruckins originated in Portland after news of Emancipation, and dancers from L’Acadco demonstrated the movement of breaking the chains of slavery.

She noted that the nine night observation came from a tradition called Kalunga from Africa and Nyabinghi was an African queen and warrior. Dr Stines described reggae as a way of fighting against colonialism and dancehall as a voice for the voiceless.

Stines has created a dance technique that is now included in the international choreography of movements. Congratulations to yet another Convent of Mercy Academy “Alpha” schoolmate.

She recalls being asked as a teenager what she wanted in life. She replied, “I want to be remembered.” As she continues on her creative path, passionately researching, choreographing, writing, instructing, and mentoring, there is no doubt that the name of Dr L’Antoinette Stines will be unforgettable.

Please enjoy the lecture on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/live/YKC4TxB3_8c?feature=shared

Mair shines in opera

Meghan Mair

Jamaican-born Meghan Mair, who recently completed her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance at Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Canada, was cast in a lead role as the baroness in
La Vie Parisienne, which played last week at the university. She will start her opera diploma there in the fall.

Her proud mom, Lynda Mair, said she has also had notable roles in Georges Bizet’s Carmen, Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. Mair’s O Holy Night at the Stella Maris Christmas Vigil had the congregation in wonderment of such a mature voice emerging from someone so young. We wish her continued success as a fine soprano.

Jean Lowrie-Chin is an author and executive chair of PROComm, PRODEV, and CCRP. Send comments to lowriechin@aim.com.