As we listened to the citations for Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss Gorman and Dr Christine Fray at the annual Soroptimist International Jamaica awards event we were moved by the achievements of these dedicated women.

Recipient of the prestigious Stella Gregory Award, Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman serves as chief of defence staff of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF), holding the highest-ranked military position in the country and creating history as Jamaica’s first woman chief of defence staff.

Wemyss-Gorman has many firsts: the first female officer to serve at sea in the JDF, the first woman to attain the rank of commander, the first and only woman in Jamaica to attain flag rank — “an honour reserved for those holding the rank of rear admiral or its equivalent and above”. She began her military studies at the prestigious Britannia Royal Naval College, gained a master’s degree with distinction in national security and strategic studies from The University of the West Indies, Mona, and later graduated from the United States Naval War College.

We learnt from the citation, “Vice Admiral Wemyss-Gorman [reflects] the highest standards of leadership, excellence, and strategic management. Her visionary leadership led to the establishment of the Caribbean Maritime Military Training Centre, through which hundreds of officers locally and regionally have become proficient in military maritime operations.”

“Her influence extends beyond national borders,” it continues. “She serves as Jamaica’s representative to the International Seabed Authority, acts as a maritime boundary negotiator, and is a leading voice in bilateral defence partnerships with major defence organizations in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Canada.”

In her reply the JDF chief of defence staff remarked that, “Courage is not confined to the battlefield,” as she noted that the legendary Ena Collymore-Woodstock returned to Jamaica after serving in World War II and became Jamaica’s first woman resident magistrate. She introduced the high-ranking women JDF members who cheered her at the Soroptimist’s event. They chanted along with her, her favourite advice: “I believe how you do anything is how you do everything.”

“Whether we serve in uniform or in civic life, we are united by duty and resolve to leave our country and institutions stronger than we found them,” she declared.

Fellow honouree Dr Christine Fray, recipient of the Grace Allen Young Award believes “Every moment is researchable.” The associate professor in the College of Health Sciences at the University of Technology, Jamaica has investigated Jamaica’s major health challenges: obesity, chronic non-communicable diseases, sports nutrition, gender-based violence, and our resulting socio-economic conditions. Motivated by her research, she is a co-founder of the Jamaica Association for Professionals in Dietetics and Nutrition (JAPINAD), which upholds excellence in the practice of nutrition and dietetics.

Her citation notes, “She has co-authored pivotal studies examining the mental health impact of child abuse, the prevalence of domestic violence in Jamaica, and the economic burden of chronic diseases. She has highlighted the troubling reality that child sexual abuse remains pervasive within Jamaican society, perpetuated by social and cultural norms that inhibit disclosure and normalize harm…Dr Fray has dedicated significant scholarly effort toward prevention and systemic change.”

The citation noted that, “In collaboration with None in Three, a global research centre focused on the prevention of gender-based violence, she has supported innovative, evidence-based approaches. This includes the development of an educational anti-violence video game called Gabby, which is grounded in real-world research and helps to raise awareness about child sexual abuse…”

In her reply to the gathering, Dr Fray admits to breaking down in tears after interviewing abused children. Their trauma can bring a lifetime of pain without early intervention.

Keynote speaker at the event, Professor Opal Palmer Adisa, made an uplifting presentation celebrating Louise “Miss Lou” Bennett’s perspicacity on Jamaican women.

Media Veterans Honoured

We gathered at J Wray and Nephew in New Kingston for the Press Association’s annual Veterans Awards Luncheon. It was with some measure of dismay that I discovered that my younger colleagues — Simone Clarke, Marline Stephenson Dalley, Pete Sankey, Milton Walker, and Rudolph Brown — were now being honoured as veterans. Kingsley “Super T” Tomlinson from St James was represented by Giovanni Dennis.

Citations revealed their sometimes dangerous assignments, their ascent as media professionals, and their steadfast integrity.

The short slogan for this year’s Journalism Week speaks volumes of our times: ‘Truth, Always’. With misleading artificial intelligence (AI) videos, mischief-makers posting libellous remarks, hiding behind pseudonyms and the greasing of palms, truth is getting a battering. It is important to honour those who have always stood up for the truth.

Last Thursday, in association with UNICEF, journalists attended a timely workshop on ethical reporting on children.

We await the National Journalism Awards being presented after press time for this column. Congratulations to President Dashan Hendricks and his hard-working executive – it has been a successful Journalism Week.

Women’s Month

We have mixed emotions this Women’s Month. We grieve with the families who have lost their young children and a teenage son in tragic incidents. We take cold comfort from the conviction and sentencing of Jolyan Silvera, who confessed to committing manslaughter, taking the precious life of his unarmed wife, Melissa.

We are looking forward to Professor Verene Shepherd’s distinguished lecture this afternoon on ‘Gender and Human Rights: The Role of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Violence’. Shepherd is vice-chair of the United Nations Committee dedicated to this subject. Professor Shepherd and Dalea Bean will launch their book,
Gender-Based Violence in the Caribbean: Historical Roots, Contemporary Continuities later this month.

The Food for the Poor Jamaica ladies gathered on Friday for a lively Women’s Day Tea organised by Marketing Manager Marsha Burrell Rose. It was a sweet reward for the diligent ladies who have been spending long, hard hours in their far-reaching hurricane relief programme.

Inspiring Dr Trevor Golding

As we listened to the tributes to Dr Trevor Golding at his thanksgiving service last week, we heard the measure of a man whose generous embrace encircled family and friends and was dedicated to excellence in his profession as a trailblazing radiologist. We appreciated that politics did not figure in his friendships as he had partnered with John Junor to create the popular Paddington Posse and was a lifelong friend of Justice Patrick Robinson.

His brother, former Prime Minister Bruce Golding, described the closeness of the three brothers as ‘three gungo peas in a pod’. It is interesting that as we age, the sibling bond grows even stronger, so there is a deep sense of loss with their passing.

Even in the brief camaraderie we had at a jazz and blues evening, Hubie and I experienced the warmth of Dr Golding and his wife, Shirley — their kindness and conviviality.

Deepest condolence to the family and friends of Dr Golding. May his wonderful soul rest in peace.

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

Christine Fray

Antonette Wemyss-Gorman