The potential of our young people is showcased in millions of social media posts in which children show their talent, speak up for their rights, and speak out on global issues.

Many of our great performers started at church, taking on church duties and channelling their faith in remarking on their accomplishments. We hear this from the winners of international sports events, Schools Challenge Quiz, and other competitions.

In school, children who are put in leadership positions continue to shine as adults. Parents who put in the time to guide their children see the results in the adults they have raised. In Usain Bolt’s autobiography he commented on his father’s insistence on punctuality, and we know that Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce’s mother encouraged her daughter to study from an early age so she would earn a place at the prestigious Wolmer’s High School for Girls.

On the world stage we see young people such as Malala Yousafzai become a fearless advocate for the education of girls and eventually awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She showed the barrier-breaking power of a child’s voice.

As an activist against climate change, young Greta Thunberg spoke up for her generation on environmental protection. Now, as I write, she is a participant in the Global Sumud Flotilla, heading to Gaza to deliver food to starving Palestinians. “I’m not scared of Israel,” she declared. “I’m scared of a world that has seemingly lost all sense of humanity and what we’re doing here is trying to show that there is still some humanity left, that there are still people willing to step up when all other means fail. But this is a last resort — this mission should not have to exist. The closer we get to Gaza, the higher is the risk of escalation and more attacks…a desperate attempt to intimidate us…”

The Global Sumud Flotilla comprises over 50 small vessels manned by activists from over 20 countries and carrying food and medicine for the suffering Palestinians. Since the attacks, Spain and Italy have sent military ships to protect the activists who have dared to go where none other has. This recalls the words of Isaiah 11:6 — and we pray for that great day when “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.”

Young People and Politics

Both the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and People’s National Party (PNP) have programmes to attract young people to their organisations. We visited their websites and social media pages to see how young leaders have risen through the ranks.

The websites of the PNPYO and the JLP’s Generation 2000 (G2K) show fresh faces, but the G2K site is more user-friendly. I could not decipher who from the PNPYO were elected to Parliament, but we note that the PNP appointed the youngest Senator, 23-year-old Gabriella Morris, in the previous term and member Christopher Henry was its representative in the seat won by the JLP’s Delano Sieveright.

The G2K site had a clever animation showing that four current Government ministers are past presidents of G2K: Dr Christopher Tufton, Floyd Green, Matthew Samuda, and Delano Sieveright. Young Andrew Holness’s potential was spotted early by former Prime Minister Edward Seaga who mentored him and saw him ascend successfully in representational politics.

Much as we stand for the wisdom of our elders, it is important to mentor young people to step into our shoes, whether in government, private sector, professional bodies, civil society, or the Church. When we show them their possibilities and equip them to achieve them, we can retain the brain power we need to keep Jamaica moving forward.

Mellow Time In Malvern

September, Senior Citizens’ Month, has highlighted the contribution of our seniors in nation-building. Congratulations to the National Council for Senior Citizens (NCSC) for a meaningful programme, including the popular Ageing Fair at Emancipation Park and the National Senior Spelling Bee Competition won by the brilliant Beverly Been.

Senior citizens in Malvern, St Elizabeth, officially launched the Bess Climate Senior Citizens Club last Sunday at the Bethlehem Moravian Church at a celebration of seniors and presentations by other senior citizens clubs. The new club is led by Joan Martin, who is also the CCRP parish representative. The compassionate Martin was active in the distribution of CCRP hurricane relief packages after the parish was hit by Hurricane Beryl.

It was wonderful to see the turnout of officials who came to salute the seniors: Reverend Sacha Lambert, host pastor, Bethlehem Moravian Church; Jamaica Constabulary Force Inspector Valerie Williams; Marjory Reynolds, chairman Jamaica Cancer Society, St Elizabeth branch; Albert Corcho, principal, Bethlehem Moravian College; Marieck Hendricks-Morgan NCSC parish operation manager; Black River Mayor Richard Solomon; and Sergeant Shavaughn Reid. Students from Bethlehem Teacher’s College also sang for the congregation.

The swearing in of the Bess Climate Senior Citizens was serious business, with NCSC’s Marieck Hendricks-Morgan reading for repetition pledges to care, support, and engage seniors in the area. This echoed the theme of Senior Citizens’ Month: ‘Respect, Protect, Empower, Connect’.

Juici’s Red Carpet For Seniors

At the Bethlehem Moravian Church service it was announced that a bus was waiting to take the seniors to the annual seniors lunch hosted by Juici Patties company at its Clarendon Park location. As usual, the seniors were treated to delicious Jamaican fare served by the generous Juici staff and sponsored by directors Jukie Chin and Edith Chin, custos of Clarendon. Throughout the year Juici makes donations to the Clarendon Infirmary. No wonder this company continues to prosper.

Well Done

This column has saluted in the past the distinguished Paula Llewellyn, retired director of public prosecutions, and trailblazing Marlene Street Forrest, retired executive director of the Jamaica Stock Exchange (JSE).

Llewellyn served in the post for 17 years, the first woman and the youngest to have held the post. Her colleagues have praised her for her strategic, transformative leadership. She pioneered the first cases involving DNA and cell site data analysis. In her eight years as JSE’s first woman managing director, following 13 years as general manager, Street Forrest oversaw the rise of the JSE, which became the world’s fastest-growing exchange over the past five years. This was reported by Bloomberg, declaring the growth at 233 per cent, ahead of Vietnam and even better than the S&P 500.

Congratulations to Livingstone Morrison who has succeeded Street Forrest. The former advisor to the governor of the Bank of Belize and former deputy governor of the Bank of Jamaica for 10 years was welcomed by JSE Chairman Steven Whittingham for “his strategic insight, regulatory depth, and unwavering commitment to Jamaica’s economic progress”.

Jamaica is indeed blessed that we have this wellspring of talent and professionalism. Happy retirement, ladies, no doubt your journey of distinction is far from ending.

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

Beverly Been, winner of the National Seniors Spelling Bee Competition

Malala Yousafzail

Greta Thunberg

Gabriela Morris