Since we heard that only a small percentage of donated relief funds had been spent so far to assist those hard-hit by Hurricane Melissa, there have been bitter arguments and accusations making the rounds. I believe if relief efforts had been organised in each parish and personnel dispatched to assist the local officials, we would have made earlier headway in rebuilding.

Still, let us remember what happened in June 1979 in New Market, St Elizabeth. After a tropical depression, the 600-acre town was covered by 80-feet-deep water. My late friend and mentor Merrick Needham was dispatched by the then People’s National Party (PNP) Government to coordinate relief efforts. With half of the town still covered after eight months, a new town, Lewisville, was built by the Urban Development Corporation. The town was completed after the PNP lost the October 1980 election and Lewisville was officially opened by then Prime Minister and Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party Edward Seaga in December of the same year.

That tropical depression was no match for Melissa, and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), as it stands, cannot cope.

I understand that ODPEM parish representatives are unpaid volunteers. I recall an interview with a St Elizabeth representative who said she had been assisting people in a shelter for 48 hours, even after learning that her own roof was gone. These representatives need to know that their homes will be as safe as possible before they venture out to help others.

Melissa was a historic weather event that taught us some hard lessons. I do not agree with some critics that we do not have the competence in the public service to ensure relief funds are managed and spent with urgency. We just need to move out of our comfort zones and be on the ground, well equipped and trained to rescue and protect our people and help them rebuild.

Let us use the example of World Central Kitchen and Food For the Poor, which both ensured they had trained personnel and adequate equipment to activate emergency services.

Marubeni helps SOS

After flooding and mudslides made the SOS Children’s Village at Barnett Town uninhabitable, the SOS Chair Sharon Lake and former Chair Marjory Kennedy moved swiftly to accommodate the 122 resident children at SOS Stony Hill. This required placing the children in schools as well as acquiring furniture and supplies so they would have a seamless transition.

Marubeni stepped in with funding to assist with the restoration of the Barnett Street Facility. Mo Majeed, managing director of Caribbean operations and chief operating officer of Marubeni Power International, said the decision to support SOS was straightforward. “We are impressed by the family unit approach that SOS Children’s Villages utilise.” He said, “This donation is directed entirely toward what the village has identified as its most pressing needs, and we are proud to assist in the effort. These children deserve to have their sense of safety and normalcy restored at the Barrett Town facility.”

Marcia Spencer, house mother for the Barrett Town Village, said in her vote of thanks, “Your compassion reminds them that there are people who truly care about their future. Thank you for bringing the light back into our children’s lives.”

CCRP welcomes JAMDEX

Over 100 members of CCRP, the seniors advocacy organisation, were introduced to Jamaica’s central bank digital currency, Jamdex, during an informative presentation hosted by the Bank of Jamaica (BOJ) via Zoom last Thursday.

Presentations were made by Wayne Guthrie, unit head of Fintech Development and Implementation at the BOJ, who had been instrumental in the implementation and development of Jamdex, and Mario Griffiths, division chief with responsibility for payment systems at the BOJ.

Guthrie explained the features, benefits, and practical use of Jamdex as Jamaica continues to advance its digital financial ecosystem. It was emphasised that Jamdex is not intended to replace cash or banknotes, but rather to serve as another convenient payment option for Jamaicans.

The presenters explained that one of the key motivations behind the initiative is to support Jamaica’s digital transformation agenda in alignment with the Government of Jamaica’s Vision 2030 strategy. Griffiths noted that the BOJ is seeking to keep pace with technological advancements to ensure that customers are not left behind in an increasingly digital society.

Members were informed that Jamdex is quick, safe, and reliable, and can be accessed through approved mobile applications or digital wallets available on smartphones. The presentation also highlighted enhanced financial inclusion as one of the major benefits of the introduction of Jamdex, allowing more Jamaicans to participate in the formal financial system.

The presentation highlighted that approximately 310,000 Jamaicans are currently using Jamdex, while acknowledging that adoption has progressed gradually due to competing priorities among financial institutions and limited promotional activity.

Special emphasis was placed on the robust security measures incorporated into the platform, including strong multi-factor authentication designed to reduce fraud risks. Members also learnt that Jamdex offers transparent transaction histories, allowing users to better monitor spending and manage their finances.

Too many farewells

One after the other in the past month we were hit with news of the passing of friends and colleagues: Dennis Lalor, Dr Aggrey Irons, Ventry Foo, and Grace McLean.

On assignment at Caymanas Park in the 80s, I met Lalor, then chairman of the Jamaica Racing Commission. He was an astute leader who had already established his name as the founder of The Insurance Company of the West Indies. He also chaired several private and public sector organisations and was the founding chairman of The UWI Development Foundation, which provides scholarships for students in need.

Irons was my brilliant, mischievous classmate at Alpha Preparatory School and blazed a trail as Jamaica’s beloved psychiatrist, offering services free of charge and working to destigmatise mental illness. He was also a talented musician and a favourite emcee. There has been an endless stream of stories about his wisdom and kindness as well as his service to his alma mater, St George’s College and to medical and national causes.

Foo was a childhood friend whose auditing firm oversaw more businesses than many imagined. He was practical, knowledgeable, and had navigated many organisations through challenging times. At his farewell service last week, he was lauded for his respect for people from every occupation and his faithfulness to family; friends; his alma mater, Calabar High School; and his country.

McLean was an ace advisor on pensions at BPM Financial. She became a favourite of CCRP members as she took the time to explain to them step by step how they could invest to maintain their quality of life in retirement. She had a ready smile, and was gracious in name and nature. Her Jamaica Observer columns on retirement planning were widely read and appreciated.

We dearly miss these excellent Jamaicans and offer our deepest sympathy to their loved ones.

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

Aggrey Irons

Dennis Lalor

La-Toya Cameron Hill (second left), resident programme manager, SOS Stony Hill, presents a thank-you gift to Mo Majeed, managing director, Caribbean Operations Marubeni Power International. Others (from left) are Sharon Lake, board chair, SOS Children’s Villages Jamaica; Damian Obiglio, senior vice-president, operations, Marubeni Power International; and Takuya Kokawa, senior manager, Marubeni Power International.