Campbell's Commentary - LET’S CELEBRATE, JAMAICA 58. RESILIENT AND STRONG

By Aubrey Campbell

NEW YORK, NY. Tuesday, July 28 ---Hello folks, another day and another week to give thanks and count your many blessings. For the next two or three weekends, Jamaicans from all walks of life, will take some time to celebrate the 58 Anniversary of nationhood, using the theme, Celebrate, Jamaica 58, resilient and strong’.

So, it was nice attending the live drawing of the UJAA (USA), Inc., mega raffle in Rosedale, Queens, on Saturday afternoon. I must hasten to admit that it was my first event of any kind, since mid-March when the government closed the city due to the coronavirus disease.

At first, I was not overly excited at the idea of going/attending the event but as an executive member of my alumni association, I was asked to stand-in for the president, who was out of town.

Considering that the host organization is UJAA (USA), Inc., I am glad I went. The event was very well organized, very well executed and needless to say, met expectations for the most part.

The team was visibly present. However, if you are going to take the blame, then be the one to take the praise as well.

President Lesleyann Samuel, you did well and on behalf of the thousands of people who bought raffle tickets, thank you.

Montego Bay High school alumnae Association – New York, were the big winners this year. Hearty congratulations!

Jamaicans are not the best listeners but, on this occasion, the church yard was not filled to capacity in this COVID challenged environment where six feet apart can mean the difference between being vertical or six feet under.

I got there as directed and after asking a few procedural questions, processing was smooth, a far cry from the seemingly haphazard, mumbo jumbo time-line associated with past staging, under normal circumstances!

Back up! You were temperature checked on entering the church yard, so they were not taking any chances!

Having done my preliminaries including pulling the consolation prize ticket and placing the tickets in the drum, I was able to return to my car and from where I was parked, had a full, uninterrupted view of the going and coming in the yard.

Distanced beyond socializing!

I have absolutely no problem whatsoever giving Caesar his due because when it is not deserving, I’m not giving it, so you can just imagine, the sinking feeling that came over me when in the middle of what was shaping up to be a perfect, 'covidesque' occasion by a Jamaican organization, the proverbial cow kicked over the pail of milk!

Well, almost!

How did the Education Task Force fit into the raffle drawing and why was it necessary for that unit to be invited in an official capacity to the drawing! What is the message here, UJAA?

Dr. Dwight Dyce may have a legitimate Doctorate degree but he spoke like someone out of depth and out of place. Then again, I understand why, because in the few words that he spoke, he made the cardinal error of mentioning Leo Gilling’s name.

How dare him!

The UJAA hierarchy know the story but I don’t think the full membership of the union knows the story, and it might be time that they ask. We are in an era where ‘information matters’.

UJAA needs to come forward and explain its relationship with the Education Task Force, what I will refer to here, as a rogue organization. If the task force is not, then its leader is. And if you ask me, he is just hiding behind Dr. Dyce and giving instructions.

UJAA needs to come forward and explain how the money is being spent. Yes, we know that Team Jamaica Bickle benefits, we know that High School seniors here in the USA, benefit. If you multiply a quarter million dollars times 25 years, that’s a lot of money for education in Jamaica.

But, somewhere, in somebody’s eyes, it is not adding up! That is my only and honest conclusion, when you consider that the prime minister, Andrew Holness did not even look in UJAA’s direction for a representative on his ‘blue’ panel, charged with re-imagining the delivery of education at all levels, in Jamaica.

The PM’s Education Transformation Commission 2020 will be chaired by someone from Harvard University, all because of the misguided antics of Leo Gilling and a (then) minister of education that did not know the difference between corruption and a contract awarded without a tender!

That is why UJAA needs to form its own task force, this way it will not be hijacked by a crony. The government says it wants inclusivity in the new direction to be proposed and UJAA, the best example of the Diaspora at work, is not considered, let alone included!

Explain that to me! And when you do, I will give you the definition of ‘coincidence!’

Resilient and strong!

Celebrate, Jamaica 58.

Oh, BTW. I have the scoop on the 58 persons being profiled in the special Independence Anniversary edition of the Gleaner/NA, now on newsstands in the USA and Canada. Get a free copy wherever you shop, to see who made the cut!

I thank you,

You have the floor!

 

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Editor’s note: Aubrey Campbell is producer/host of Caribbean Conversation, airing on WVIP, 93.5 FM, Sundays, 2-4 pm, and TCB Fridays, 12 noon – 2.00 pm, on WNYH, 740 AM, and streaming on the Wee Radio Network at; www.weeradioonline.com,