We welcome the news that the Government has established the National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority (NARA), which Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness describes as “a modern, best-practice central coordinating body to drive recovery with discipline, transparency, inclusivity, and a long-term vision”.

That drive for recovery should not be hampered by the painful procurement procedures that have slowed down laudable initiatives in the past. Let us note that the next hurricane season will begin in less than seven months. Not only do we have to safely house the estimated 400,000 displaced Jamaicans, but also we need to implement an islandwide plan to reinforce all our public buildings, including hospitals, clinics, schools, police and fire stations, and infirmaries.

We have the cold comfort that Hurricane Melissa spared Kingston, the centre of Government, business, and our major port. However, we can’t sing que sera, sera. After our provision of relief, we must now examine our structures and ensure they are reinforced to resist these monstrous weather events.

We have a huge opportunity with the US$6.7 billion financing package announced last week, funded by Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank Group, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank Group. This represents two-thirds of the estimated funds needed for full restoration of hurricane-ravaged areas and will be disbursed over three years. With the help of NARA, we will satisfy our financiers that Jamaica has the will, wherewithal, and integrity to reconstruct for long-term resilience.

Churches are doing their best

Because churches do not trumpet their good works, their outreach activities are hardly noticed, and they have been criticised by ignorant folks. The facts are that, being on the ground in the most affected areas, churches have become centres of relief. We worshipped at the Mary Gate of Heaven Catholic Church in Negril last week, where the Franciscan priest told us that their St Anthony’s Kitchen, which has been open for years, delivering hot meals to the needy, joined with World Central Kitchen to deliver tens of thousands of meals continuously for three weeks.

Most churches are now collection points for relief items. Custos Canon Hartley Perrin has been working and advocating daily for the people of Westmoreland and beyond. The Salvation Army and Missionaries of the Poor have also been serving communities. In good times or bad, our churches remain a place of refuge and even now when they have suffered extensive damage, their ministers continue to serve. Let us not bring them distress while they are doing so much for our people.

Remembering Ambassador Jesús Silva Fernández

It was in a spirit of gratitude that we gathered last Tuesday at the Holy Trinity Cathedral to celebrate the life of a great friend of Jamaica, Ambassador Jesús Silva Fernández, who served as Spain’s ambassador to Jamaica from 2005 to 2010. The memorial mass was led by Archbishop Kenneth Richards with concelebrant Archbishop Emeritus Charles Dufour and other priests. A large contingent of the Spanish Embassy attended, led by Ambassador José María Fernandez Lopez de Turiso.

As we looked around at the beautiful mosaics at the cathedral, we recalled that Ambassador Silva Fernández was instrumental in bringing, from Spain to Jamaica, art experts who uncovered the mosaics for restoration. Jamaican dynamos Thalia Lyn, Chris Issa, and William Mahfood gave their time and treasure to the project. It was also supported by the Digicel Foundation, Culture, Health, Arts, Sports and Education (CHASE) Fund, and local architects and artists.

An attorney-at-law, Silva had a distinguished career with tours of duty in Germany and Latin America. He was instrumental in bringing Spanish hotel chains to Jamaica. Ambassador Silva Fernández passed away in October of this year. Our deepest sympathy to his loved ones.

Farewell, Great Women

Recently, Jamaica lost two of its legendary women who have blazed trails and mentored many — Ena Collymore-Woodstock and Dorothy Pine-McLarty.

Collymore-Woodstock was 108 years old, and we viewed a video of her dancing at her 100th birthday celebration. The Chief of Defence Staff Vice-Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman and the Jamaica Defence Force noted her “stellar and distinguished career both within and outside of the military”.

Their tribute noted, “When she travelled by boat from Jamaica to England in 1943, in response to a war recruitment advertisement, she survived a torpedo attack. She was assigned to the anti-aircraft service where she was trained as a radar operator. During 1943 and 1944, defending the coast of Britain was one of Collymore-Woodstock’s core duties. She was later deployed close to enemy lines in Belgium, and played a vital role in defeating the Nazis, plotting the paths of incoming enemy planes.”

After studying law in England, where she was called to the bar in 1948, she returned to Jamaica and eventually became a resident magistrate, retiring in 1977. The St Hugh’s High School alumna was also the chief commissioner of the Girl Guides for 10 years. Our condolence to her family.

Last Friday, members of Senate paid tribute to the great Dorothy Pine-McLarty, the first woman to chair the Electoral Commission of Jamaica and to be a senior partner at Myers, Fletcher & Gordon. As I wrote in my column after she was honoured by the Jamaican Bar Association, “I confess to having a special place in my heart for Hon Dorothy ‘Mikki’ Pine-McLarty, as we collaborated when she served as the first woman chair of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ). She has a passion for Jamaica’s democratic system and has devoted long hours to ensuring that our general and local government elections went smoothly under her watch in 2016 and representing us at international conferences of electoral representatives.”

When she was honoured by the Jamaican Bar Association in 2022, Pine-McLarty was congratulated “on instilling the core values of integrity, dignity, and professionalism in the firm”.

The much-decorated attorney-at-law was conferred by the Government with the Order of Jamaica and has received high honours from her beloved alma mater, St Andrew High School For Girls and her Methodist community. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from University of the Commonwealth Caribbean (UCC).

My deepest sympathy to them and her beloved family: husband Herman and children Rachel and Matthew. May her beautiful soul rest in peace.

Legacy of Jimmy Cliff

Jimmy Cliff’s lyrics match our life’s challenges: Many Rivers to Cross, Sitting in Limbo, You Can Get It If You Really Want, The Rebel In Me. His passing brought worldwide headlines and it hurts to know that he was under appreciated by our local radio stations.

When some of his records were produced by Total Sounds, where my husband was an engineer, we learnt an interesting fact about him from owner Herman McDonald. He had visited Jimmy Cliff a few times and noted that he was an avid reader and kept a dictionary by his side. The artiste said that he would note the meanings and used the new words.

Thus Jimmy Cliff, the lifelong learner, enriched his lyrics to inspire the world. We are grateful to this cultural icon. Our condolence to his beloved family.

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

The churches have been working without fanfare to assist the relief effort. l

Jimmy Cliff.

Dr Andrew Holness Photo: JIS