Jamaica Welfare Limited was registered on June 7, 1937 to “promote and manage… schemes for… the social and economic betterment of small settlers, farmers and working people of Jamaica”.

It was the innovation of Norman Manley, who desired entrenched systems for better communities, and people-centred rural development to reverse rural-urban drift and give the people a voice. Manley formulated a plan to fund the organisation through the United Fruit Company, the major exporter of bananas, by getting them to give one cent for every bunch of bananas bought for rural development.

“The United Fruit Company would set aside one cent per stem of bananas exported from Jamaica to form a fund to be administered by an organisation… for the good and welfare of the people of Jamaica with emphasis on rural people.” (Martin Henry, May 8, 2009)

Jamaica Welfare as an organisation started receiving £80,000 annually for its mission and programmes. However, with the declaration of World War II, the shipment of bananas stopped from Jamaica to Britain, resulting in the subsidy slashed from the banana exporters. However, a grant from Britain through Colonial Development and Welfare became available and funded Jamaica’s Welfare between 1944 and 1949.

Even though funding was urgent, it was the volunteerism of community members which was the power that drove Jamaica Welfare forward and kept it alive. According to Norman Manley, “Jamaica Welfare tapped a deep stream of middle-class interest… schoolteachers were anxious to come in and were quite prepared to do so in terms that meant no financial benefit to them, but answered a deep feeling that rural Jamaica needed special help.” (SESA Magazine, August 2020)

Manley led by example. His entire being was thrust into volunteering his time and efforts to Jamaica Welfare, inspiring remarkable Jamaicans to share his mission and commitment. They included D T M Girvan, Leila Tomlinson, Margery Stewart, Eddie Burke, Jimmy Kerlew, Eddie Fagan, Pansy Hart, Ted Hanson, Arthur Carney, Chester Dowdy, Cecil Harriet, Leopold Pinnock, and Stella Gregory. (Arnold Bertram, 2020)

Numerous projects introduced by Jamaica Welfare and implemented through pioneer clubs across the island unified the hearts and minds of ordinary Jamaicans through Government agencies. Finally, Jamaicans had a voice in the direction of running their communities under the leadership of Jamaica Welfare.

The first pioneer club established to administer the programmes was in Walkerswood, Moneague, St Ann, under The Lucky Hill Farming Co-operative Society, which became Jamaica’s first registered co-operative farm and led the way to create other farming co-operatives in Jamaica.

When the People’s National Party (PNP) was formed in 1938, one of the first party groups to encourage democracy from the group up was again created in Walkerswood by Comrade Enos Perkins.

By 1942, Comrades of Walkerswood became a part of the constituency known then as St Ann Eastern, which soon elected Ivan Lloyd as the PNP’s first representative to the Legislative Council in 1944, where he served as Jamaica’s first Leader of the Opposition from 1944 to 1949 since PNP President Norman Manley did not win his seat.

During this time, Jamaica Welfare had established 127 pioneer clubs, 57 handicraft groups, and 261 co-operative groups.

Proudly, people nationally would quote the organisation’s motto: “We are out to build a new Jamaica,” which became an anthem written by Dr Mary McNicol for the Walkerswood Pioneer Club sung to the tune of “Glory Glory Hallelujah” (chorus of Battle Hymn of the Republic).

The Walkerswood Pioneer Club also created and performed a play, The New Jamaica, which they performed across many rural communities to inform more Jamaicans about the organisation’s mission and why it was necessary to volunteer and get involved to improve communities.

The 1949 elections returned the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to power, led by Alexander Bustamante. Consequently, the Government reconstituted Jamaica Welfare as the Jamaica Social Welfare Commission and Norman Manley resigned as the organisation’s chairman.

In his farewell message, he is noted as saying:

“I deeply regret that a name that has become known the world over so much for its accomplishments and having significance and meaning of its own should have been changed for no better reason than spite.”

The executive director, D T Girvan, resigned in 1951 to take up work in Ecuador.

After the 1955 General Election, when the PNP came back into power, it ensured that the role of the Jamaica Social Welfare Commission expanded to affect more rural development. The Sugar Industry Welfare Board was incorporated to organise and teach community groups in home economics, handicrafts, literacy, and co-operatives.

At the same time, the Jamaica Social Welfare Commission arranged other community-based programmes. Soon, community councils and parish councils were formed within each parish, having the right to name its representative on the All-Island Welfare Association. (Arnold Bertram, 2020)

The 1962 elections witnessed the JLP forming Jamaica’s first Government in our Independence from Britain.

In 1965 the Social Development Commission (SDC) was created as a State-controlled entity.

The spirit of community volunteerism and advocacy, which was largely spawned and led Jamaica through Lucky Hill and the people of Walkerswood, eastern St Ann, some 80-plus years ago should never be taken for granted. It was here, that the SDC as we know it today was invigorated. This was the cradle that gave vision and mobilisation to the mission that helped to shape the minds of Jamaicans and give them power; that they had a place to revolutionise Jamaica simultaneously.

Now known as St Ann South Eastern (also SESA), it is the people of this constituency that have perennially led with their voices and their actions in the PNP and across Jamaica since 1938, which has helped to strengthen not only our party’s structures but also democratic representation for national policies to aid agriculture, health, education, tourism, culture, finance, infrastructure, and youth development.

Since 1944 Dr Ivan Lloyd has served the seat for four terms, Seymour Mullings for six terms, Aloun Assamba for one term, and currently, me — in my fourth and final term. All of us have run under the banner of the PNP. Even though we have all held various positions in the Government, such as leader of the Opposition, deputy prime minister, and varying Cabinet posts, we knew the voices of the people of the constituency were what mattered most. As Comrades, when people spoke, we listened.

SESA is not a homogeneous seat; it comes with roots and political gravitas honed over decades.

This is why, when early in my second term as Member of Parliament, Cabinet minister, and regional chairman, I was challenged for the seat by Councillor Lydia Richards, I told the party to, “Let the people speak.” I went before them in a selection conference — 468 to 10 was the result.

On June 11, 2023, the party’s St Ann South Eastern delegates spoke in a selection conference at which they chose Dr Kenneth Russell to represent the party in the next general election.

Here’s to the pioneering voices of St Ann South Eastern over the years which helped to fashion Jamaica’s development, then and will continue for generations to come.

Lisa Hanna is Member of Parliament for St Ann South Eastern, People’s National Party spokesperson on foreign affairs and foreign trade, and a former Cabinet member.