THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 14 - MARCH 16, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | FEATURE 2 >> Page 8 Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, will be the toast of Washington, DC, at the 9th annual David ‘Wagga’ Hunt Scholarship Award Red Carpet Ball on February 20. Phyllis Barnes phyllis.barnes@gleanerna.net NEW YORK Garfield Grandison - Manager garfield.grandison@gleanerna.net Normadelle Rose - Office Supervisor normadelle.rose@gleanerna.net 92-05 172nd Street, Jamaica, NY 11433, 718-657-0788 Aubrey Campbell aubreycgleaner@gmail.com Aniceto Rodriguez Ruiz, first counsellor and head of cooperation for Jamaica, raps with Shaqwayne Williams (right) and Marcello Richards from the Regent Street Basic School located in Denham Town, Kingston. The European Union, along with JSIF, conducted a tour of the community on Wednesday. KENYON HEMANS/PHOTOGRAPHER 1955: PRESIDENT of Haiti, Paul EugeneMagloire, sets foot on Jamaican soil and makes history as the first president of the neighbouring Caribbean republic to visit Jamaica. In the company of Madame Magloire and an entourage of officers, Magloire arrives by a specially-chartered Pan-American Airways plane which brings him to the Palisadoes Airport fromOttawa, Canada. His visit was in connection with the celebration of the Jamaican Tercenentary. 1966: Shipping history is made in the Jamaica when the 52,000-ton“United States”Ship - the largest ever to come to the Island, docks at the new piers of western terminals at New PortWest in Kingston. Paying a one-day visit to Kingston as part of a Caribbean cruise, the pride of the United States Line arrives with 809 cruise passengers, including 200 Shriners Passengers. 1969: Roland Michener, governor general of Canada and Mrs Michener, as part of their state visit journeys to St Ann where Michener unveils a plaque at the Walkers Wood Primary School and officially declares the school open. In unveiling the plaque, Michener says that of all forms of cooperation, none appealed to him as much as cooperation in education and therefore the unveiling of the plaque at Walkers Wood is even more significant to him. TheWalkersWood School is one of several constructed by the joint effort of the Canadian and Jamaican governments. email library@gleanerjm.com This Day In Our Past: February 14 1969: Mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, Councillor Phillip Brown (left) as he was introduced to the Governor General of Canada, the Rt. Hon . Roland Michener (second from right), at Walkers Wood Primary school in St. Ann on February 14, by the Minister of Education, the Hon. Edwin Allen (right). A Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Mr. Arthur Williams, looks on. FILE MUST READS >> Page 7 Karen Morris-Clarke is vying for a seat on the Wellington Village Council on March 8 this year. >> Page 14 Vancouver businessman Bryan Johnson aims to inspire black youth to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). >> Page 13 The Bob Marley ‘One Love Experience’ exhibition had its official opening at the Saatchi Gallery in Kings Road, London last week, and fans of the Jamaican reggae icon are reportedly in for a treat. >> Page 19 Film-makers Jennifer Holness and Sudz Sutherland explore Black History as Canadian History in a new series ‘BLK: An Origin Story’ to be aired on the History channel starting the last weekend of February. To purchase the featured photographs or other archival materials, please contact us at 876-932-6231
THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 14 - MARCH 16, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 3 WASHINGTON, CMC : United States Senate Majority Leader Charles “Chuck” Schumer has introduced Jamaicaborn New York City Assemblyman Nick Perry to the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee as the nominee for US ambassador to Jamaica. “It is my honour to introduce a proud New Yorker, a dear and longtime friend, we’ve known each other for 30 years, and fellow Brooklynite, Nick Perry, to serve as the next US ambassador to Jamaica,” said Democrat Schumer on Tuesday, February 8. Perry was present at Tuesday’s initial hearing with his Jamaica-born wife, Joyce, and their son Nicholas. Schumer described Perry as a native of the island and he would become the first ever “Jamaican-born person to serve as its American ambassador. “It is truly an important milestone, one that I would add is long, long overdue,”Schumer said, adding that Perry, who represents the 58th Assembly District in Brooklyn, is “a well-known face in the community. “He has a knack for doing politics the old-fashioned way: shaking hands, showing up at every event, and just listening to people from everyday life. Nick is an immigrant, he is a veteran, and a lifelong public servant, and he represents the best of what America is all about. I am certain that Nick will be a wonderful ambassador to Jamaica.” President Joe Biden on November 3 last year announced Perry’s nomination. Perry was born and raised in Jamaica and migrated to the US in 1971. He served in the US Army for two years of active duty and four years on reserve status. He received several service medals and was honourably discharged. Perry was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 1992 to represent the 58th Assembly District in Brooklyn and was re-elected to serve his 15th consecutive term in November 2020. He is currently the assistant speaker pro tempore of the New York State Assembly, and regional vice-chairman of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. NEW YORK, CMC: A UNITED States congresswoman and activist legislator in New York has passed a bill through the US House of Representatives to support debt relief for Caribbean and other developing countries. Congresswoman Alexandr ia Ocasio-Cortez, known by her initials AOC, who represents NewYork’s 14th Congressional District, told CMC that the measure was passed in the House on Friday, February 4, as part of the America COMPETES Act. “The legislation strengthens the G-20’s (Group of 20) Common Framework, a multilateral debt relief initiative, to reflect the challenges countries have faced during the pandemic,” said Ocasio-Cortez, whose district includes the eastern part of the Bronx, portions of north-central Queens and Rikers Island in New York City. “Critically, the legislation also places a moratorium on debt payments for countries that are applying to be part of the Common Framework,” she added. “Developing nations whose early economies and political systems were crippled by colonialism and foreign intervention deserve a real opportunity to compete – to build independent, sustainable economies, unburdened by impossible levels of debt.” The congresswoman said the legislation will also have benefits at home as well as overseas. “The race-to-the-bottom for wages that has cost the US so many manufacturing jobs is driven by the economic vulnerability of developing nations,” said Ocasio-Cortez, who drew national recognition when she won the Democratic Party’s primary election for NewYork’s 14th Congressional district on June 26, 2018. TheWorld Bank has warned of a significant 12 per cent increase in the debt burden of developing countries to a record US$860 billion in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, called for expeditious efforts to reduce debt levels. Among other things, Ocasio-Cortez advocates for abolishing the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency responsible for rounding up and deporting undocumented Caribbean and other immigrants. US passes bill supporting debt relief for C’bean, other developing countries CASTRIES, ST LUCIA: LEADERS OF the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) have agreed to co-sign a letter being sent to United States President Joe Biden as they announced their support to the continued advocacy efforts for the posthumous exoneration of Marcus Garvey, the Jamaicaborn black nationalist and leader of the Pan-Africanism movement. A statement issued by the St Luciabased OECS Commission said that the leaders of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts-Nevis, Montserrat as well as Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands, discussed the Garvey issue at their recently held summit. It said that the request was made by former Jamaica Prime Minister P. J. Patterson of The P. J. Patterson Centre for Africa-Caribbean Advocacy at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, as the centre prepared to launch an appeal to US President Joe Biden for the posthumous exoneration of Garvey. “The efforts are being supported by the Marcus Garvey Institute, which launched a petition making the request of President Biden. The petition to posthumously exonerate the late Marcus Garvey is seeking 100,000 signatures in the month of February (Black History Month), a milestone which will trigger a response from the US President Joe Biden. “As part of their contribution towards this effort, the OECS heads of government agreed to co-sign a letter addressed to President Biden calling for the posthumous exoneration of Marcus Garvey. The heads also agreed to lead a National Appeal for signatories to the petition in their respective countries,” the OECS Commission said. The OECS Commission said it is urging all citizens, organisations, civil society and residents in the diaspora to join the efforts to exonerate“one of the all-time great leaders in the Caribbean and globally”. OECS leaders support efforts for posthumous exoneration of Marcus Garvey US Senate moves to confirm nominee for US Ambassador to Jamaica Nick Perry BRITISH JOURNALIST Kuba ShandBaptiste, winner of the 2020 Barbara Blake-Hannah Press Gazette Award, receives a copy of the RJRGleaner Communications Group Jamaican Women of Distinction souvenir book, from Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange. ShandBaptiste paid a courtesy call on the minister during her prize trip to Jamaica, which was sponsored by the Jamaica Tourist Board.
THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 14 - MARCH 16, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 4 J’can policewoman suspected of masterminding US$1.7m lottery racket Janet Silvera/Senior Gleaner Writer LOCAL AUTHORITIES say they are now cooperating with their international counterparts after a Jamaican policewoman attached to the Zones of Special Operations (ZOSO) was jailed in the United States on accusations of being a major player in a lottery scamming operation. She has been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by wire and conspiracy to commit fraud by mail. THE 18-YEAR veteran employed to the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), Shelian Cherine Allen, who resides in Stonebrook Vista, Trelawny, and is stationed in the parish of St James, is accused of running a lottery scamming organisation that is responsible for fleecing US$1.69 million from mainly elderly victims based in the United States. The cop’s 20-year-old son, who was also under investigation for lottery scamming, was also arrested. Allen is believed to have earned US$128,000 from scamming between 2019 and 2021, under what law enforcement officers in an affidavit have referred to as the‘Allen Lottery Scheme Organisation’. The affidavit was filed against her in the Eastern District Court ofWisconsin in Milwaukee onWednesday, February 2, after months of investigations and admission of guilt by a number of accomplices based in the US. At least one of the 17 vulnerable or elderly victims identified lost her house, plus US$150,000 in the scam, said the report. Allen was detained when she tried to enter Fort Lauderdale in the United States in September 2021. Border control officers were able to confirm her involvement in the crimes based on statements collected from her co-conspirators, the serial number in her iPhone 11 Pro, the IMEI and her phone number. Last week the JCF revealed that the 42-year-old has been suspended with immediate effect following her arrest on Friday. Allen, who was previously suspended by the JCF on corruption allegations over two years ago, was only reinstated in 2021. ON THE RADAR According to reports out of the United States, the policewoman has been on the radar of the US Department of Homeland Security as one of the leaders of the scam since 2020. Monies were traced back to multiple accounts opened by Allen in the US, including a PNC Bank account. She has been travelling between Jamaica and the US for months. The investigation was a collaborative between the Brown County Sheriff ’s Office in Green Bay, Wisconsin; postal inspectors with the US Postal Inspection Service; and law enforcement agencies from the US and Jamaica. NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED ALLEN Gov’t Tables J$912-Billion Budget Dr Nigel Clarke, the minister of finance and the public service, has described the upcoming 2022-23 Budget as a signal of the transition from crisis towards recovery. The medium-term outlook, however, sees lower growth over the next three years towards 2024. “Fortunately, Jamaica has begun the process of recovery from the impact of the pandemic within the reality of the continued transmission of the virus,” Clarke said in tabling the Government’s 2022-23 Budget for parliamentary approval last Thursday. The Estimates of Expenditure will total $912 billion, or 2.1 per cent more than was programmed a year earlier. The recurrent budget will pay wages, salaries, and general operations. Digging deeper into the expenditure sees non-debt expenses at $539 billion, the capital budget at $65.1 billion, and debt service of $307.5 billion. The capital budget will rise 20 per cent to $65 billion. Despite the higher capital spending, the country, however, will not benefit from high growth. That is because even though the capital budget will grow 20 per cent to $65 billion, it is still several times smaller than pre-pandemic levels when the country struggled to grow. In fact, the International Monetary Fund, the island’s key donor agency, expects Jamaica to grow 4.6 per cent in 2021 fiscal year, 2.7 per cent in fiscal 2022, and 1.6 per cent in fiscal 2026. Historically, the capital budget stood at $291.5 billion in 2017-18, dipped to $220 billion in 2018-19, and dipped further to an estimated $72 billion in 2019-20. Going forward, however, towards 2026, the capital budget should grow from $65 billion to $87.2 billion, $95.3 billion, and $100.7 billion. Turning to the ministries and departments, the finance ministry will receive the lion’s share of the 2022-23 Budget at $412.7 billion, mainly to pay down on debt compared to $401 million a year earlier. It was followed by the Ministry of Education and Youth and departments at $122.4 billion, compared to $121 billion a year earlier; the Ministry of Health andWellness at $93 billion, or $7 billion lighter year-on-year; and the Ministry of National Security at $92 billion, from $88 billion in the previous period. Clarke will give his substantive remarks in his Budget presentation on March 8, the third under the cloud of COVID-19 The Government’s plans for 2022-23 ● Economic Growth and Job Creation The long-awaited gazetting of the Cockpit Country Protected Area boundaries will be brought to Parliament. Additionally, the Government will promulgate new legislation to enable the creation and regulation of a National Protected Areas. ● National Security The Government is pressing ahead with the development of several new and revised pieces of legislation, including: 1. Firearms (Prohibition, Restriction and Regulation) Bill 2. Corrections Act 3. Enhanced Security Measures Bill 4. Security Personnel Integrity Bill, and 5. National Intelligence and Security Bill ● Education and Youth Work is advancing on amendments to the Education Act, the Children (Adoption of ) (Amendment) Bill, and the Child Care and Protection (Amendment) Bill. ● Agriculture and Fisheries 1. Repeal of the Plants (Quarantine) Act and enactment of the Plant Health Act. 2. Amendment to the Agricultural Produce Act. ● Industry, Investment and Commerce 1. Amendments to Companies Act to strengthen the disclosure of information relating to the beneficial ownership of companies to counter money laundering and terrorism financing. 2. The Insolvency (Amendment) Bill to allow for the rehabilitation of businesses where possible and the prevention of insolvency. 3. The Dangerous Drugs (Cannabis Import, Export, Transit & Trans-shipment) Regulations to facilitate the growth of the cannabis industry for medical, therapeutic and scientific purposes. ● Legal and Constitutional Affairs The Bail Act is viewed as a critical law in need of reform. New provisions will be enacted relating to the grant or denial of bail. ● Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Cabinet has approved amendments to the Domestic Violence Act, and drafting instructions have been issued. The amendments are expected to be passed this legislative year. ● Local Government and Rural Development Legislative priorities for the coming year include finalising the Human Services Bill, the National Solid Waste (Amendment) Bill, and regulations related to the National Solid Waste Management Authority and the Building (Enforcement of Notices and Orders) Regulations. ● Transport and Mining The National Minerals Policy will be repositioned and implemented to include establishing the National Minerals Institute and diversification of the minerals portfolio through the exploitation of non-bauxite mineral resources such as limestone and precious stones. ● Health andWellness The Government says it will commence the largest healthcare infrastructure development undertaken since Independence. Jointly funded by the European Union and InterAmerican Development Bank, the initiative will see upgrades to 13 health facilities comprising three hospitals and 10 health centres. The Spanish Town, St Ann’s Bay, and May Pen hospitals will be upgraded. The following health centres will also be upgraded: Greater Portmore, St Jago Park, Old Harbour, St Ann’s Bay, Ocho Rios, Brown’s Town, May Pen East, May PenWest, Mocho, and the Chapelton Community Hospital. ● Finance and the Public Service The Government will begin implementation of a comprehensive restructuring of public-sector compensation. This will simplify the 325 salary scales and eliminate most of the 185 allowances so that in most cases, compensation will consist of a salary payment only. The Bank of Jamaica will roll out digital currency in 2022 after a successful pilot last year.
Tanesha Mundle/Staff Reporter RASTAFARIAN NZINGA King will be seeking financial compensation for assault and battery after Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn ruled last Wednesday, that a police corporal accused of forcibly cutting her hair should not be charged. Llewellyn said that the allegation was undermined by a raft of inconsistencies and witness claims that King had confessed to cutting her own hair. But the DPP’s ruling has not sapped the will of her legal team to seek a favourable decision elsewhere. “We are going to pursue the civil course, and we are going to be seeking the relevant damages that can be awarded through the jurisdiction of the civil court,” said attorney-at-law Isat Buchanan, noting that he was not surprised by the long-awaited ruling that went against his client. The closely watched incident, which sparked public outrage, came to the fore last June after the 19-year-old student of Lionel Town, Clarendon, alleged that her dreadlocks were trimmed by a woman cop while in custody at the Four Paths Police Station in Clarendon. King, who was arrested for disorderly conduct stemming from a June 2021 incident at a taxi park in May Pen, in the parish, claimed that her hair was cut by the police because it made her a suicide risk. Rastafarian doctrine prohibits haircuts among its adherents. Shortly after King’s story was publicised, an investigation was launched by the Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau (IPROB) but was turned over to oversight agency INDECOM, which sent off its findings to the DPP in November. However, the DPP’s ruling was delayed by three weeks after it had requested further details from INDECOM. Llewellyn, who explained her ruling in a statement onWednesday, also recommended that no charges be laid against a male cop pertaining to allegations of assault related to King’s arrest for failing to wear a mask in public, disorderly conduct, and abusive language. Similar recommendations were made by INDECOM following its probe. The DPP, in an interview on RJR’s ‘Beyond the Headlines’, further explained that several inconsistencies were found in the case. According to her, detainees who were in the lock-up at the material time have indicated that they saw King pulling her hair from her head and summoned the police. Llewellyn further noted that there are accounts from police witnesses who have indicated that they visited her cell and saw the locks on the ground. The DPP also indicated that there are accounts from King’s classmates who said the Rastafarian had informed them a week before the incident that she was going to cut her hair and confessed to them later that she had trimmed her locks. Llewellyn said the hair was tested and no trace of the policewoman’s DNA was found on the locks. However, the DPP said its recommendation does not preclude King from pursuing civil remedies. She said further in the release, “No recommendation is made in respect of a possible investigation regarding Ms King for the offence of creating public mischief.” But she noted that the police can decide to do so if they believe they have sufficient evidence. At the same time, she agreed with INDECOM that there should be a departmental inquiry into whether any administrative breaches occurred pertaining to failure by the police to make available relevant records at the material time King was detained at the station. “We also concur with INDECOM that Ms Nzinga King should be afforded professional counselling. We strongly recommend this course be pursued by her family and any competent authority,” she ruled. Buchanan, however, described the ruling as “much ado about nothing”, noting that it will have no bearing on the civil action. “The ruling of the DPP is of no moment in the civil jurisdiction. In fact, there would have been several instances where the DPP would have made a determination not to prosecute and private attorneys have been successful in the civil court,”said Buchanan. Relating to the claim that his client had cut her own hair, the lawyer said the DPP was at liberty to state whatever she pleased. tanesha.mundle@gleanerjm.com THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 14 - MARCH 16, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 5 HAIR-SAY Rasta King to press claim in civil court after DPP clears cop Nzinga King, 19, with a handful of her dreadlocks she saved after she was allegedly trimmed by a cop. NATHANIEL STEWART/ PHOTOGRAPHER
THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 14 - MARCH 16, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS 6 Natasha Henry/Contributor “We are Africans not because we are born in Africa, but because Africa is born in us.” ~ Kwame Nkrumah THEWORD‘home’ conjures upmany different ideas and feelings – a sense of place, love, loss, acceptance, dispossession, togetherness, homeland, identity. This year, we mark our 34th annual observance of Black History Month with virtual programming exploring the theme of ‘Home’. Home symbolises many cultural, social, political, spiritual, and economic meanings for people of the African diaspora. We look forward to contemplating‘home’ for Black History Month 2022. This year, we return to presenting Ontario Black History Society (OBHS) awards to community members who are so deserving of recognition for their selfless commitment to community, excellence, and honouring our extensive black history. Our notable keynote speaker, Ginelle Skerritt, brings her perspective to our theme that will provoke learning, conversation, and action.We are pleased to be able to unveil two commemorative collection pieces to our attendees, the 2022 Canada Post Black History Month Stamp and a Royal Canadian Mint coin that recognizes black history. The line-up includes a number of talented artistes who bring aspects of our culture through song and dance. Our programme is topped off with a mouth-watering dinner prepared by Chef Selwyn Richards and the Art of Catering. We hope to bring to you a sense of fellowship and community right to your home. During the month of February, we are pleased to offer our second annual Black History Month Speaker’s Series that will include a launch for Lawrence Hill’s debut youth novel, a panel on newly released film productions on Black Canada, and a dialogue on black and indigenous solidarity. We continue our endeavour to realise a permanent home for the Museum of African Canadian History & Culture and will be forging ahead full force with our campaign in 2022. Learn how you can support our initiative and make a donation on our website. - Natasha Henry, is president of the Ontario Black History Society. Rev Dr Karen R. Green/Contributor ASWE unite and celebrate the contributions black Americans have made to the development of this country, let us do so by celebrating the pioneers who paved the way for our generation. Black History Month is celebrated not to set black people apart, but to recall the many achievements and accomplishments we have made. After more than 200 years of independence, our community celebrates the firsts achieved by black people. It should not be so. It should be a given that people achieve because of their ability, given a level playing field, something that black people are still fighting for in a country where our blood, sweat and tears are embedded in the soil. Black History Month had its genesis in 1915, when thousands of black people from across the country travelled to Chicago to see exhibits highlighting the progress black people hadmade since the abolition of slavery. The three-week exhibition, which saw huge crowds, was the inspiration for the formation of an organisation to promote the scientific study of black life and history. From as far back as 1920, black civic organisations were encouraged to promote the accomplishment of black people. First came the Negro History and Literature Week which later evolved into Negro AchievementWeek. February was chosen for history and reform. The month was also associated with two great Americans who played distinguished roles in black life - Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Black History Week evolved into Black History Month during the 1960s, at the height of the civil rights movement. Today, Black History Month has moved from its traditional roots. While it was founded to teach and highlight black achievements, one could be forgiven if one questions whether Black History Month today is meeting the lofty goals set out at its genesis. We still highlight the achievements of blacks, but many younger generation blacks seem to have lost the true significance of why Black History Month is recognised and celebrated. We, as a people, have made significant progress and strides. The fields of entertainment, sports, culture, business, science, technology, education, among others, are littered with the achievements of black people. Blacks can be found in every sphere of the society making their contributions to the continued development of this country. So, as we celebrate another Black History Month, let us celebrate the achievements of a people, both individually and collectively, who, after years of slavery, are pioneers in every aspect of American life. So, as we celebrate Black History Month, let us recall the words of Marcus Garvey: “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” Rev Dr Karen R. Green is the former director of the Caribbean Diversity Coalition. She currently serves as a vice-president of the Florida Democratic Party and is a former board member of the former Jamaica Federation of Musicians. Let us celebrate black pioneers, achievements Karen Green Exploring ‘home’ for Black History Month 2022 Natasha Henry, president of the Ontario Black History Society
7 T:9.8" T:6.7" Targeted financial support programs available now For eligible Canadians or business owners who continue to struggle due to COVID-19: Hardest-Hit Business Recovery Program Tourism and Hospitality Recovery Program Canada Recovery Hiring Program Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit canada.ca/coronavirus SOUTH FLORIDA: K AREN MORRIS-CLARKE is quick to point out that she is not just another person of Caribbean descent seeking elected office in Florida, or the United States. It’s more than that. For her, it’s a call to service for the greater good of community and country, a response that she hopes will give her a seat on the Wellington Village Council on March 8 this year. She recalls hearing ‘Make each day your masterpiece’ throughout much of her formative years. Though somewhat shy as a child, she knew then that working each day to be better would be the key to fulfilling her innate desires to learn and lead. Her three years at Montego Bay High School for Girls in St James, Jamaica, gets worthy credit for inspiring and equipping her with foundational disciplines to complement her longing for exploration and excellence. “My family and I migrated from Jamaica to New York in 1978, so I completed my secondary education at Bay Ridge High School in Brooklyn”, she shares. “I encountered many challenges, but always chose to focus on my goals.” After high school in the hustle and bustle of New York City, Morris-Clarke worked for corporate giants like Delta Airlines, U.S. Airways, and American Express (corporate travel). “It is no longer surprising to me that so many of my purpose-defining seasons and lessons still come from or while travelling, and interacting with people from all walks of life, whether locally, nationally, or internationally,” she adds. Her relocation from New York to Florida in 1998 was no exception. However, now married with a young family in tow, this trip was a lot more daunting. Nevertheless, this go-getter immediately regained her footing with a rewarding term at Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) in Boca Raton. Her stint at CWT was relatively short-lived, as the business closed its doors following the sombre events of September 11, 2001. She recalls solemnly contemplating the personal significance, or the true purpose, of her move from New York City to Florida. Unwavering determination, faith, and fortitude would propel her - a wife, mother of four, and the first in her family to complete college - to her finish line, graduating from Florida Atlantic University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. In 2009, wanting to be closer to home, she joined Wellington’s KellerWilliams Realty Brokerage, and in 2015 earned their prestigious High Sales Bronze Award. Yet this career high failed to mitigate a personal loss in the death of her 25-year-old son, Chris, due to a traffic collision in 2016. For Morris-Clarke and her family, that reality has come full circle. “No parent envisions outliving their child. I have always considered myself a silent giver, avoiding any publicity regardingmy giving.With Christopher’s death, I also became a listless, silent griever,” she confides. “Yet, I couldn’t quiet the constant inner voice, prodding me to action.” Action time is March 8, when residents in Wellington will give her the necessary vote of confidence to effect change in such areas as road and public safety, small business development, fiscal responsibility, and community empowerment. If nothing else, her son’s death would serve to galvanise this grieving mother’s resolve to fully commit to enacting positive changes in Wellington, her home town since 1999. “I was heartbroken, but did not wish to be defined by my loss and grief. When isolation offered little to no solace, I started praying that this tragedy would, instead, refine me,” she says. And so was born her decision to enter the race for Seat Number Two on Wellington’s Village Council. Her desire to bring the community together led to her campaign motto: ‘Community, Better Together’. Mindful that some causes are, however, too great for any one person to address, Morris-Clarke has targeted her appeals for community changes at all of Wellington, and particularly at those who rarely take part in local, civic matters. ‘“Community, Better Together”, has served me and my husband, Patrick, exceedingly well as a blended family with six adult children and three grandchildren. I have given of my time and resources, creating and serving in non-profits, alumni organisations, church, social and grass-roots civic groups. My triumphs, as well as tragedies, have governed my trajectory. I know Chris would be extremely proud of me and cheering me on as he, too, loved community.” Now that she is ready to serve her beloved Wellington township, a place she has called home all these many wonderful years, Morris-Clarke says she knows the residents in Seat Two are on her side and ready. Karen Morris-Clarke ready to serve! Karen Morris-Clarke is running for office, Seat 2 Wellington Village Council in Florida. CONTRIBUTED THE WEEKLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 14 - MARCH 16, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | PROFILE
8 CALL OR VISIT TODAY! For Your FREE Quote FOR ALL YOUR INSURANCE NEEDS! Visit our convenient location! Contact us at 860.236.9996 CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH 1141 New Britain Avenue West Hardford CT 06110 A I REY I NSURANCE GROUP WASHINGTON, DC: J AMAICA’S SHELLY-ANN FraserPryce, the second-fastest woman in history, will be the toast of Washington, DC, at the 9th annual David ‘Wagga’ Hunt Scholarship Award Red Carpet Ball this coming February 20. The three-time Olympic gold medallist, businesswoman and philanthropist, ‘Pocket Rocket’ will be honoured for her extraordinary world-class achievements and distinguished service in track and field and philanthropy. Audrey P. Marks, Jamaica’s ambassador to the USA, is serving as patron for the virtual red carpet affair, along with Kingston College Principal Dave Myrie and Calabar High School Principal Albert Corcho. “Our mission remains the same – to continue offering scholarships to deserving students at KC and Calabar in Kingston, Jamaica,” organising committee chairman Christopher Hunt explained. “To date, we have awarded over 35 scholarships exceeding US$106,000.” Deserving students at Kingston College and Calabar High School in Kingston will benefit from all of the funds raised from theWashington, DC, red carpet event. The chairman pointed out that the evening’s programme will highlight remarks by Ambassador Marks, testimonials from previous and current scholarship recipients, and musical entertainment by renowned Jamaican reggae artistes, among them Fab 5 Band, Stephen ‘Cat’ Coore, Lovindeer, and Gem Myers. “Due to the pandemic, we had to pivot from our usual red carpet ball held in Washington, DC, to a virtual platform,”said the planning committee chairman. “However, I am pleased, based on the response last year to our virtual event, that we were able to reach a more global audience, which afforded us more opportunity to garner more needed funds to continue with our mission.” This being the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hunt noted, students’ families continue to face increased hardship in Jamaica. “We remain resolved as ever, as we seek to minimise the effects on the students’ efforts to continue receiving quality education, via affordable technological equipment, tools, and logistical frameworks. Lack of such accessibility and deficiency has hindered the efforts of the many teachers and have certainly caused increased stress and concerns for both parents and students alike.” Ambassador Marks has commended the David‘Wagga’Hunt Memorial scholarship committee for “sustaining this important initiative, which has served as a powerful tool in transforming the lives of several boys by helping them to complete their high school education and to realise their dreams.” The scholarship fund honours the legacy of the late David ‘Wagga’ Hunt, a distinguished Kingston College alum. Among noteworthy highlights, he was co-founder of Meadhaven United Football Club; former general secretary of the Kingston & St Andrew Football Association (KSAFA); and former general secretary of the Minor League Football Association. He died in 2007. David Hunt was one of Jamaica’s foremost track and field analysts, who was driven by a deep passion for youth and sports. As coach, he led Calabar to both the Manning Cup and Oliver Shield titles in 2005. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce to be honoured at David ‘Wagga’ Hunt memorial event Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Audrey P. Marks is flanked by members of the David ‘Wagga’ Hunt Memorial scholarship committee at its scholarship award red carpet ball held in 2020. PHOTO BY DERRICK SCOTT THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 14 - MARCH 16, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | PROFILE
9 Lester Hinds/Gleaner Writer SEEKING TO close the diversity gap in the commercial airline industry, Jamaica-born United Airlines pilot Glendon Fraser has launched the Redtail Flying Academy in upstate New York, to train young black men and women to become commercial pilots. FRASER, WHO left Jamaica at the age of eight with his parents and settled in New Rochelle in Westchester County, has been a pilot with United Airlines for the past 36 years. During that time, he said, he has seen widening diversity in the industry and has committed himself to narrowing the gap. “Redtail is an offshoot of 20 years of mentoring young men and women through the Tuskegee airmen programme,” he told The Gleaner. Fraser pointed out that students accepted at the flight academy were selected through the 53 Tuskegee airmen branches spread across the United States. Currently, six students are enrolled in the programme. They have to complete more than 2,000 flight hours, as well as instrumental training. The training programme has two Piper planes and two instructors, including Fraser, who provide the students with all the necessary training. The programme is 10 months long. Fraser said that, in 2019, he, along with others, started a programme at the Newburg Amory for second- to sixth-graders. The students were engaged in standard aviation and STEM programmes. However, the programme got a significant lift with the donation of a helicopter, which was sold and the proceeds used to start Redtail Flight Academy. “We are using Redtail to develop and expose talent. There is not enough people of colour in the aviation industry. In fact, people of colour make up less than four per cent of the industry. We are trying to change the culture as there is a significant shortage of pilots who are people of colour,” he said. Fraser pointed out that commercial pilot tuition fees run above US$100,000. Asked if he would expand the programme to include Jamaicans back home, Fraser said this would be difficult to do, given the restrictions that have been imposed since 9/11. However, he suggested that Jamaicans interested in becoming commercial pilots seek to move to the US and enrol in flight academies. “If they live in the US, it is possible to be recruited through the Tuskegee airmen programme,” he said. The six people currently in training at Redtail are all on full scholarships. However, Fraser said Redtail is considering offering half, not full, scholarships, which would free up resources to woo additional students. Redtail is pursuing partnerships to assist with funding the academy. EXCITING POSSIBILITIES Fraser said that he is excited about the possibilities that the academy offers. “We get to mentor a lot of potential black pilots, provide internships and build a reservoir of talent,” he said. According to Fraser, a lot of kids can only dream of joining the commercial aviation industry. Fraser said that he wanted to become a pilot the first time he laid eyes on an airplane. To fulfil the dreams of others, Fraser said that he is seeking to tap businesses and the private aviation sector for funding. That, in turn, will give them access to the students. The Redtail Flight Academy programme was recently featured on CBS News where two of the students were interviewed about their participation. lester.hinds@gleanerjm.com Judana Murphy/Gleaner Writer GREGORY FFOLKES developed an interest in engineering through his love for mathematics. From solving simple algebraic equations as a youngster to using engineering processes to determine the assembly of parts for space vehicle hardware and systems, his career has been built on a blend of innovation and passion. The 61-year-old Jamaican is now a senior production manager at Boeing, with more than 33 years of experience under his belt. He grew up in Spanish Town, St Catherine, with his grandparents, while his mother worked as a registered nurse in the United States. Ffolkes migrated to be with his mom when he was 10 and recalled that he experienced a bit of culture shock in Brooklyn, New York. “It was a different lifestyle, a different atmosphere in terms of the seasons, and the culture was just different overall. My Jamaican accent was very strong at the time. Over time, I met other Jamaicans who were attending the same school as I did,” he said. He thenmoved to Long Island where he completed junior high school and high school, before moving on to junior college. He spent two years pursuing general studies, with a major in mathematics. “As I was growing up, I just had a knack for mathematics. That’s where my interest in engineering and working in the technical industry developed,”he told The Gleaner. Ffolkes then enrolled in Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta and earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering in 1984. His first job out of university was at New York Telephone Company as an outside plant engineer – designing telephone network systems for business and residential areas. After a few years, he yearned to get back into the engineering field he had focused on in university – aerospace propulsion systems. The first foot in the door of what is now his illustrious career was a role at Grumman Aerospace, which built aircraft for the navy. While there, he worked on fighter planes as a flight test engineer. It was only a while before some colleagues he had met in university told him about job openings in a few space programmes. DREAM COME TRUE He was successful in his interview at Rocketdyne, a manufacturer of space shuttle main engines. “I never imagined that I would work on the space programme. I thought I’d be more involved with small airplane companies but never anything as big as this. But, when it happened, it felt like a dream come true,” he said. “That was something that was more exciting to me. I worked there from 1988 to 1997 and that was when Rocketdyne was acquired by Boeing,” Ffolkes added. In 1991, he got married to Sheila, who also worked for Boeing in the finance unit. Their union produced a daughter. Ffolkes’ job required lots of travelling to various states in the US, each of which gave him the opportunity to meet new people, build his network, and gain new experiences. Boeing covered the cost of travelling for him to be with his family every three to four weeks. His wife was sometimes able to get assignments in the same state to which he was relocated. He was awarded a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Central Florida in 1996, which positioned him to move up the ranks. Ffolkes also had a stint in an airport security programme responsible for outfitting X-ray machines for baggage following 9/11. His next post took him to Alabama at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. “I was the systems engineering senior manager for all of the programmes out of Huntsville, Alabama for space, programmes for missile defence, and other secret programmes,” he said. In 2012, he moved to New Orleans where he was instrumental in getting the factory set up and activated for the manufacture of a rocket set to launch to the moon this year. Two years later, he was promoted to senior productionmanager and then in 2020 was called to help with another space-related programme for Boeing. “It’s called the commercial crew programme that is building a space vehicle to go and dock to the international space station that’s currently orbiting. It brings astronauts back and forth and cargo or any payloads back and forth,” Ffolkes detailed. He will retire in four years and join his wife, who is already a retiree. Ffolkes is encouraging young Jamaicans to build their network and seek out mentorship. “You are the only one who has control over your destiny. There will be many obstacles and you can choose to go over themor around them, but keep your eyes on the prize,” he remarked. judana.muphy@gleanerjm.com Jamaican maths prodigy is out of this world Engineer recounts journey from Spanish Town to space engineering Gregory Ffolkes NASA Jamaica-born pilot aims to close colour gap in the skies Captain Glendon Fraser has ambitions of training more black pilots to close the diversity gap in the skies. CONTRIBUTED THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 14 - MARCH 16, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | PROFILE
10 BLACK HISTORYMONTH 2022 ALUMNI MEMBERS: * Aabuthnott Gallimore * Alpha Academy * Anchovy * Ardenne * Bethany * Bethlehem Teachers’ College * Beulah * Calabar * Camperdown * Campion * Clarendon College * Cornwall College * Denham Town * Dinthill Technical * Eastern Hanover * Edwin Allen * Excelsior * Glenmuir * Godfrey Stewart * Grantham College Herbert Morrison * Holy Childhood * Immaculate Conception * Jamaica College * Jose Marti * Kingston College * Kingston Technical * Knockalva * Knox College * Lime Hall * Manchester * Manning’s * Meadowbrook * Merl Grove * Mico College * Montego Bay * Morant Bay * Munro Hampton * New Day * Ole Farmers * Pike * Rosemount * Rusea’s * Shortwood * St. Andrew Technical * St. Catherine * St. Elizabeth Technical * St. George’s College * St. Hugh’s * St. Jago * Titchfield * Tivoli Gardens * UTECH * Westwood * Wolmer’s * York Castle * York Street ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: *AFUWI * Friends of Charlemont HS Inc * Friends of Port Maria * JAMCCAR * NE Alumni & Friends of GSHS Inc. * True Tribute Organization Foundation Inc. Over 30 Years of Commitment, Dedication and Service Education is Empowerment, Only the Educated are Free Union of Jamaican Alumni Associations (USA), Inc. www.ujaausa.org info@ujaausa.org Tel: 347-927-3606 Neil Armstrong/Gleaner Writer TORONTO: I VAN DAWNS, a JamaicanCanadian drywall finisher and plasterer, decided on a career in the skilled trades initially to change his mother’s perception of him as not being able to do hard work. I t has been his vocation now for the past 24 years. In fact, he has not only excelled there, but also in his work within the community. DAWNS, WHO is from Corn Piece in Hayes, Clarendon, says he went to church one Sabbath and overheard a woman, whose son worked in drywall finishing, telling his mother that he should try it because it was a well-paying job. “My mom said, ‘He can’t do that, he don’t know how to do hard work.’ And when she said that, I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m going to prove you wrong.’” He successfully completed the apprenticeship programme at the Interior Finishing Centre and afterwards worked with a few companies. Initially, he wanted to be a professional cricketer and travelled to England, but did not like it there, so he decided to follow his parents who came to Canada in 1992. “When I came to Canada in 1997, originally I told my mom that I am going to be a schoolteacher,” says Dawns, who loves to teach and now, as a union representative, has trained others. During a period when he was unemployed, Dawns called a company, Four Seasons Drywall, early one morning and when someone picked up, he told the person that he needed a job. He was asked if he was available to start that day, and within minutes he was at his new job. He stayed there until he became a leader and was running a crew, but eventually left to become a union representative. In April 2013, he became the first black representative of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT). Having attended Hayes All-Age School, he developed his leadership skills when he moved on to Bustamante High School, where he became the head boy in 1992 and captain of the school’s cricket team. After graduation, he worked as the manager of Beaches Electronics in May Pen. BLACK MEMBERS As chair of the African American Community Organizing for Real Economics Committee (AACORE) of IUPAT, Dawns examines ways in which the union can better serve its black members. He notes that when he started out, black people were not being represented in the union, and he told the general manager that such representation mattered. Dawns co-wrote a resolution for the recruitment and retention of black persons and for them to be in leadership roles. He is pleased that IUPAT District Council 46 has just hired another black person. “I am not satisfied, because two in the whole of Canada is unacceptable. I want to see everywhere in Canada have more black representation,” says Dawns. He has drafted recommendations on racism to address incidents of anti-black racism on job sites. The union leader has been recognised for his work in the community. In 2021, he was the recipient of the Bromley L. Armstrong Award, presented by the Equity Committee of Toronto &York Region Labour Council. At the end of January 2022, he received the Ontario Black History Society’s Dr Anderson Abbott Award for High Achievement for his contribution to the community. Dawns also mentors youth as part of the Toronto Community Benefits Network’s NextGen Programme. He is a member of the Local’s Apprentice Committee at the Interior Finishing SystemsTraining Centre and amember of the Central Ontario Building Trade Central Committee. For Black History Month in 2019, he organised 20 members of his union to paint the Jamaican Canadian Centre. He also got IUPAT to sponsor a float in the Toronto Caribbean Carnival. In 2018, he helped the Carpenters’Union to build Wakefield Infant School in Trelawny, Jamaica, a Helping Hands Jamaica Foundation project. Dawns urged his union to make a donation to the initiative, which it did, and gave him the time off to travel to the island. In December 2021, he organised and funded a Christmas dinner for homeless people in Oshawa, Ontario, and got his family involved. I t was a success and gained media attention, which resulted in his boss offering to pay for this year’s dinner. Dawns plans to sponsor a soccer team made up of school-leavers uncertain about their future. He envisions hosting a dinner at the end of the season, and having various professionals make career presentations to them. He wants young people, especially those in youth shelters, to know that working in the skilled trades is a lucrative area to explore. For his 50th birthday on September 15, he is planning to hold a barbecue and asks everyone invited to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to a youth shelter. IVAN DAWNS SHINES IN THE SKILLED TRADES IVAN DAWNS THE MONTHLY GLEANER | FEBRUARY 14 - MARCH 16, 2022 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | NEWS
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