NEW YORK, USA — An initiative to honour the memory of veteran broadcaster Dervan Malcolm — who died last week following a period of illness — got under way here on Tuesday during a meeting involving representatives of 19 diaspora organisations.

Led by Peter Gracey — the former Global Jamaica Diaspora Council representative for the Southern United States — the representatives decided to establish the Dervan Malcolm Diaspora Memorial Scholarship in Journalism and Media Practice.

Malcolm developed close ties with the diaspora during his more-than-30-year career at
Power 106FM, especially through the popular programme he hosted, Both Sides of the Story.

According to Gracey, “With the use of his microphone, Dervan opened many doors for others, so it is important for us to keep those doors open for others to enter. Both Sides of the Story was not just another radio programme, it opened bridges for us across the Diaspora.”

Details on how the scholarship is to be set up and administered, as well as funding, are to be worked out and decided on, with Gracey emphasising that it should have broad-based support to ensure the impact of Malcolm’s legacy on the diaspora is fully understood and preserved.

One key objective which members of the group agreed on is that any recipient of the scholarship must be someone who is going to uphold the ideals of integrity, fairness, and honesty, which they said were important hallmarks of Malcolm during his career.

Addressing Tuesday’s initial meeting of the group, Irwine Clare Sr, of Team Jamaica Bickle, warned against the idea of establishing the scholarship to honour the legacy of Malcolm becoming a nine-day wonder or being affected by unnecessary bureaucracy.

“We need to move with speed and accuracy to ensure that this idea is developed and implemented. We need to guard against too much bureaucracy, we need to strike the iron while it’s still hot,” said Clare as he announced the first financial contribution of US$500 by Team Jamaica Bickle to help fund the scholarship.

Brodcaster Dervan Malcolm in whose honour members of the Diaspora are planning to establish a scholarship.

Clare also announced that his organisation is considering providing its own scholarship to honour the memory and legacy of Malcolm, who had a close personal bond with Team Jamaica Bickle.

There have been several tributes to Malcolm from some outspoken members of the diaspora for the role he played in fostering and developing key ties between Jamaicans living at home and abroad.

One of those who has recognised the work of Malcolm is Dr Rupert Francis who heads the Diaspora Task Force on Crime Intervention and Prevention.

“Malcolm was a consummate broadcaster who understood the value of the diaspora and its importance to the development of the homeland,” Francis told the Jamaica Observer.

Roy Fullerton of the United Managed Care Alzheimer’s Support Group described Malcolm as “a down-to-earth individual whose impact on the diaspora through his work was tremendous”.

During his career, Malcolm was the recipient of several diaspora-related awards, including Diaspora Ambassador in Media Award from the New York-based Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations and the Bickle Award from Team Jamaica Bickle.

He was also recognised for his contributions to the diaspora by the City of Los Angeles and the Jamaica Awareness Association of California.