THE MONTHLY GLEANER | AUGUST 3 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2023 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 10 THE GOVERNOR of the State of Maryland, Wes Moore, has proclaimed Jamaica’s Independence Day, August 6, 2023, as Jamaican Independence Day in the State of Maryland and has commended its observance to all citizens. The Proclamation signed by Governor Moore was presented to Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Audrey Marks, by the governor’s mother, Joyce Moore, a Jamaican, at a thanksgiving service to mark Jamaica’s 61st anniversary of independence from Britain, and 185 years of full emancipation from slavery, at the Sligo SeventhDay Adventist Church in Takoma Park, Maryland. The proclamation congratulated the people of Jamaica on the country’s 61st anniversary of their country’s independence, and pointed out that “The state has drawn strength from the diversity of our people, and today, we honour those who trace their roots to Jamaica for the many ways in which they have contributed to the richness and triumph of the State of Maryland.” Senior Pastor of the Webster Memorial United Church, Rev Astor Carlyle, in delivering the sermon, called on Jamaicans in the diaspora raise their voices against injustice, discrimination, “anancyism” and corruption; and like Sam Sharpe, Nanny, Paul Bogle, Marcus Garvey and Bob Marley, stand up for your rights.” He charged the congregation to be like Zelophedad’s daughters: to show up, stand up, and speak up in the defence of justice; to showmoral courage. “A willingness to bear loss if needed, in order to see that justice prevails; a willingness to sacrifice comfort and convenience on the altar of principle, to ensure that truth and right win out, and a willingness to give up my privileges today so that my children and grandchildren may have a better life tomorrow.” TANGIBLE WAYS The Webster Memorial senior pastor told his congregation that “rather than sit on the verandah of diagnostic discourse, or in the grandstands of prescriptive complaint”, they must find “tangible and transformative ways through community organisations and programmes to impact the minds and lives of unattached youths, many who find solace in the shaky shelter provided by gangs”. They should also find tangible and transformative ways to show up for the scores of persons, who have left Jamaica as infants, and learned antisocial behaviour in other nations, but are deported as adults with no connections or opportunities to continue life meaningfully. “And while we applaud you for the remittances that go a long way in boosting our economy. What will we do in our own sphere of influence to stem the influx of guns into our small and vulnerable island home, which kill thousands of youths, children and productive citizens?” Rev Carlyle told the congregation that “each of us, and all of us together; old, young, male, female, have a stake in the pride and strength of Jamaica land we love”. The service was moderated by Rev Bertram Melbourne, dean of Howard University School of Divinity. Musical selections were rendered by the choir, Performing Artistes Under The Lord, with soprano Alison Buchanan. The offering collected will be donated to CUMI, the Community for the Upliftment of the Mentally Ill, in Montego Bay. August 6 proclaimed as Jamaican Independence Day in Maryland Senior Pastor of the Webster Memorial United Church Rev. Astor Carlyle delivers the sermon, at the thanks-giving service to mark Jamaica’s 61st anniversary of independence at the Sligo Seventh Day Adventist Church in Takoma Park, Maryland. PHOTO BY DERRICK SCOTT Ainsworth Morris/Gleaner Reporter WHEN AARON Waugh, 11-year-old graduate of Jessie Ripoll Primary School, was told he was the top-performing boy for the 2023 sitting of the Primary Exit Profile (PEP) examinations, he was overjoyed. HE AND top girl Shannon-Elise Barrett, of Kensington Primary School in St Catherine, were yesterday announced among the list of 32 PEP students to receive government scholarships this year. Both students were placed at Campion College and have been awarded the Guardian Group Foundation Scholarship. Aaron said he studied very hard and went to a lot of extra PEP lessons during each day of the week, and now he has seen the silver lining and the fruit of his labour. “It was a very hard process,”he told The Gleaner, noting that he was relieved when he was told some weeks ago that he had been placed at Campion College. “I felt accomplished, and I felt like it was really worth it,” Aaron said. LOOKING FORWARD He is now looking forward to the different activities he has heard are available at Campion College, the new faces he will meet, and the grand opportunities the school has been well-known in St Andrew for providing its students. He is also excited to be going to the same secondary-level school his older brother, third-former Abraham, now attends. “He has set this mark for me to follow. I feel like I am following it very well, and I’m living up to the expectations of the Waugh family,” Aaron said. His mother, Annice Waugh, beamed with even more joy than her son on Sunday while speaking with The Gleaner. She said it was the strong faith her son has in God that made him confident enough to know that he could be victorious in the end and receive the desires of his heart. “Faith and work because the Bible talks about faith without work is dead, so we put in a lot of effort and we pray and we have faith,” she said. She then explained why she was overjoyed about her son being the top performing boy in PEP for this year. “We were aiming for the government scholarship, but this tops it all. He exceeded our expectations,” said his mother, a scientist and assistant lecturer who is pursuing a PhD in physiology at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona. Mrs Waugh told The Gleaner that Aaron’s brother previously received a top award in Kingston, and Aaron was challenged to do better. “They used to have a friendly rivalry, and we used to say ‘If you are going to outshine your brother, you will have to do better than that’.” Now, Aaron has done just that. His mother noted that her husband, Garland Waugh, is also proud of his son. Aaron, whose favourite football club is Manchester City, said he hopes to become both a footballer and an entrepreneur. “I really enjoy the sport, football. I just have a connection to it … . An entrepreneur because I really like business. I like to be a leader in some way,” he said. Top boy Aaron Waugh ready for grand opportunities at Campion Aaron Waugh (second left) with his mother Annice, father Garland (second right) and brother Abraham at his graduation. CONTRIBUTED
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