JAMAIICA: St Catherine Elderly Get Early Christmas Dinner

KINGSTON, Jamaica / The Jamaica Gleaner / Lifestyle / December 17, 2011

Elderly people from Bog Walk and its environs partaking of the dinner put on for them by the Bog Walk Chapter of the United Nations Association of Jamaica on Sunday, December 11, at the Tru-Juice Sports Club at Bybrook, St Catherine.- PhotoS by Paul H. Williams

By Paul H. Williams, Gleaner Writer

BYBROOK, St Catherine: 'TWAS MINUTES after four o'clock. I saw her alight the vehicle, ably assisted by another senior woman. I stared because she was the epitome of elderly elegance. But I realised she could not move without holding on to the other woman. Then, it struck me. She looked mighty familiar.

I left the hall of the Tru-Juice Sports Club, at Bybrook, St Catherine, to get a better view, and I was bowled over. This stunning elderly woman was Gloria 'Miss Mama' Lewis. On Saturday, February 12, The Gleanertold the story of the utter poverty in which Miss Mama, a visually impaired person, was existing, sharing her food with rats and her bed with a lizard, among other subhuman conditions.

If only Gloria Lewis, who is visually impaired, could see the heads that she turns 

as she arrives at the Christmas dinner put on for the elderly in and around Bog Walk.

Now, on Sunday, December 11, when Miss Mama made her grand arrival, all eyes were on her in her black and white ensemble. The late great fashion icon Coco Chanel would have been delighted to see her. She had arrived for the fourth annual Christmas dinner for shut-ins and elderly people in and around the Bog Walk, St Catherine, area. After a long embrace, greetings, chit-chat and photo-shoot, I escorted Miss Mama to her seat.

The dinner was a community outreach effort by the United Nations Association of Jamaica (UNAJ) Bog Walk Chapter, led by Esau Samuels, founder and chairperson, who had first told The Gleaner about Miss Mama's plight. "We see where at this time of the year people forget about the elderly, so we reach out to them in this way," Samuels told The Gleaner.

Reaching out

And it was in such a delectable way that they reached out, starting off with cups of hot soup, and Tru-Juice orange juice. After large plates of rice and peas and a variety of meat and salads, the senior citizens got more juice and ice cream for dessert. Entertainment was provided by the singing duo of Twisane Henry and Norman Wilson, who thrilled the gathering with some sacred and Christmas music. Later in the evening, the elderly got a chance to perform or reminisce about the old days. But, despite the abundance of food and drinks, there were no packages of niceties this year, as the regular sponsors were not in a position to be generous this time around. Tru-Juice was the main sponsor on Sunday, having hosted the elderly at its sports club providing them with gallons of orange juice. Debbie's Grocery of Linstead and Ewarton, Priorities, McDonald's and Cecil Wholesale in Bog Walk also donated food and other supplies. Shell Bog Walk's Joy Tapping also chipped in.

Much of the cost, however, was stood by the UNAJ members and volunteers, who prepared and served the meal themselves. Hyacinth Weir of Knollis, St Catherine, stayed away from church to make her contribution. "It's very important to me. I usually help them every Wednesday. I am always willing to help. You have to help people in whatever area you can," she said.

Special season

Collette Davis-Brown, secretary of the Bog Walk chapter, mindful of the fact that she will not be young forever, in explaining her involvement in the project, said: "Christmas season is a special season to show people that you care ... . I am affectionate when it comes to my elders. One day I am gonna be in their position." Yet, she would like to see a centre in Bog Walk where the elderly can meet to get assistance.

The beneficiaries with whom The Gleaner spoke were all grateful for the gesture by Samuels and his team. And Samuels vowed to continue to reach out to the less fortunate, "as long as God gives us strength". He said: "Sometimes it's not easy, it's really challenging", but "without service in the community the community will go to sleep ... . You need services in the community to keep people alive, service to the community is critical ... . By the grace of God, we hope to grow."

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JAMAICA: Vaz Prep gets centenarian rolling

. ROLLINGTON TOWN, KINGSTON, Jamaica / The Jamaica Gleaner / News / March 20, 2010 Wheelchair brings joy to elderly woman LIFE HAS taken a wonderful turn for Bernetta Edwards, a 102-year-old resident of Rollington Town in Kingston. The centenarian, with an infectious smile, is expressing gratitude to Vaz Preparatory School for providing a wheelchair to help her move around. Grade-four boys at Vaz Prep School look on admiringly at 102-year-old Bernetta Edwards, after the School donated a wheelchair to her during their devotion on Thursday morning. Photo by Ian Allen/Photographer Accepting the gift at the school on Thursday morning, Edwards said the wheelchair would make life a little easier for her. "I have to say that I feel good," Edwards told The Gleaner. Hundreds of students who assembled for devotion at the school were elated to meet the centenarian, who received the wheelchair from principal of the school, Karlene Bisnot. The senior citizen, who has been living in the community for more than 60 years, made her living in earlier years as a practical nurse, dressmaker and hairdresser. Bisnot said the institution was involved in various outreach activities in Rollington Town. "Vaz has been in the Rollington Town community for nearly 60 years and it always sought to give back to the community," she said. According to Bisnott, the school also organised health fairs for the elderly and provides lunch for the less fortunate who were shut in. Even as the school tries to grapple with the current economic challenges, the principal said Vaz encouraged its students to support the dispossessed in society. "As a school, the children give regularly. We give to charity on a regular basis and we encourage the children to look out for the less fortunate," she explained. "We are mindful that, even though the times are challenging, others are having it harder than we are and so we try in whatever way we can, in the midst of all of that, to lend a helping hand." [rc] edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com Copyright © 2010 Gleaner Company Ltd.

JAMAICA: At 105, she says life has just begun. Now Miriam aims for 150

. KINGSTON, Jamaica, West Indies / Jamaica Gleaner / News / October 1, 2009 Miriam Chambers Hyde In Senior Citizens' Week The Gleaner highlights the most senior of that group. Those who have lived in and contributed to our society for more than 100 years. Today, meet Miriam Chambers Hyde. From Western Bureau After living a long and fruitful life, Miriam Chambers Hyde still believes that, through the grace of God, she can easily live to see 150 years. Chambers Hyde celebrated her 105th birthday on May 19, and it would appear that, for her, life has just begun. The centenarian, who was born and raised at Hampden in Trelawny, has a pleasant personality and was not shy to speak about her romance story with her first husband, Edward Jesse Chambers - a former butler at the Hampden Estate. "I remember one day, I went to do some sewing at Dumfries (St James) at a friend, and when I was going back home I had to walk through the Hampden Estate," she recalled. "Rain fell and I was running to get shelter and he came to hold me ... it was there that he 'captured me'." She does not recollect the date of their marriage but the couple had four children before she became a widow in 1946. Years later, she married Simion Hyde. He died in 1992 - their union did not produce any children. Her guiding principle for life is: "Love your neighbour as yourself, honour your mother and father, that your days may be long on the earth." [rc] © Copyright 1997-2009 Gleaner Company Ltd.

JAMAICA: Elderly couple says 'Yes, I can'

. KINGSTON, Jamaica / The Jamaica Gleaner News / April 20, 2009 By Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter Seventy-nine-year-old Jephtah McIntosh and his 70-year-old wife, Olive, have kept true to the adage that one is never too old to learn, having signed up for literacy classes in their community. The septuagenarians are among 14 participants and 13 facilitators in the 'Yes, I Can' programme' in western St Mary. The programme which was brought to the Gayle community by Member of Parliament Robert Montaque, began in January and is the English equivalent to the Spanish 'Yo Si Puedo' literacy programme in Cuba. "It is easier to deal with something more than nothing at all," Mr McIntosh told The Gleaner of his reasons for signing up with the programme at such a late stage in life. Eduardo O'Reilly Herrera (standing), teacher in the 'Yes, I Can' Literacy Programme in western St Mary, assists Jephtah McIntosh, one of the participants in the programme, with a question in the workbook. At left is McIntosh's wife, Olive, who is also a participant in the programme. Mrs McIntosh, who has had challenges reading her favourite book - the Bible, said she could not let the opportunity pass when she heard about the Yes, I Can programme. "I did know some words, but to pronounce the bigger words was my trouble and I needed it because I want to read my Bible," she told The Gleaner during an interview at the Centre of Excellence in Gayle. She added: "It is the best thing that happen to Gayle, but plenty of the people are ashamed, but me not shame." The couple say they study together and have no problem helping each other out when doing their homework. For them, this is just another way of bonding. "I have a young lady at home and some words that I don't know she spell it for me and I do the writing," Mrs McIntosh revealed. She said her reading has improved since joining the programme. However, there is much more room for improvement, so she will continue for a few more months. Mr McIntosh, on the other hand, will graduate from the programme next Sunday. "I feel very good about that. I love it and the teacher very nice. They see to it that we learn. Them have patience," Mr McIntosh said enthusiastically. He added: "It is never too old to learn. I remember the things that they teach me." Mrs McIntosh, however, said her memory sometimes fails. "Sometimes, I don't really remember and that kind of trouble me," she explained. The couple got married in 1990. They have 18 children in total from previous relationships. "The children feel good about what we are doing," Mrs McIntosh told The Gleaner with a smile. Thirty-seven-year-old Glenford Smith, another participant in the programme, said his literacy level was 'zero' when he started in January. "Today, I can read a little and I can write good now. I never know how to write and now I can identify every letter in the alphabet," Smith said while twiddling his thumbs. He added: "I am a Christian and love church, but I did not know the words in the Bible and it used to bother me and a lot of people encouraged me, so I just jumped to the opportunity." Smith, who will be the valedictorian at Sunday's graduation, said he plans to return to classes at the Centre of Excellence. "I am just going to continue because every day you learn more and more," said the farmer. Cuban national Eduardo O'Reilly Herrera, who was brought to Jamaica to teach the programme, said the participants' overall performance has improved. "They are very good students. The big problem is attendance but they are interested and all have improved a lot," said Herrera. Classes are held Mondays to Fridays. Herrera leaves in May but facilitators who have been trained will continue the programme which will be extended to other communities in the constituency. The Yes, I Can programme has four components - workbook, participants, video lecture and facilitators. petrina.francis@gleanerjm.com © Copyright 1997-2009 Gleaner Company Ltd.