June 2011
Your Positive Connection To Jamaica
Giving to others
Issue 8
Wen i give to yu, i don luk to yu to give mi bak.
Being able to give new opportunities to others is a driving force behind Bespoke Homes Jamaica. So for example we widen our workers’ skills through new learning opportunities. And we support Saturday & summer school in Jamaica. Before his recent return to competitive running, Usain Bolt joined Lady Allen, the Governor General’s wife, and others on his 10km walk to support the Bustamante Children’s Hospital. The public and business are helping the police by giving more information about criminal activity. And by helping in other ways , as when Sandals donated four new VW pickup trucks to the JCF, as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations. Labour Day saw some great efforts, including 30 people helping to clean the fire-damaged Hannah Town Police Station - & the Town’s Network Learning Centre. The youth club provided some helpers, including children as young as seven.
What you give always come back – be generous! (Thanks to Ena Wright for sending this proverb)
Our Bethnal Green event Our latest one-stop roadshow proved a great hit. It followed our first radio show, when Lillalee Wright was interviewed on Colourful Radio. People came from far & wide to hear our evening of talks at Oxford House, Bethnal Green, on 16 June. ‘The Woman of Proverbs’ – Lorlett Hudson - again chaired the event with aplomb. The development of BHJ into the present one-stop property shop with strong community links was described by Lillalee Wright, drawing on her deep knowledge and some great Jamaican humour. A full analysis of Jamaica National’s finance facilities and borrowers’ requirements was set out by Vasle Atkinson. Hamilton Daley considered many of the key legal issues – not least getting that land title sorted.
Richard Adeshiyan, Lorlett Hudson, Hamilton Daley, Lillalee Wright; and Vasel Atkinson & colleague (JNBS) S Sydial & Senator the Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, Minister of State, Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade
Sylbourne Sydial of Facilitators for a Better Jamaica has just attended the biennial Diaspora Conference in Ocho Rios. This followed an FFBJ survey in which “lobbying” and “investing” gained majority support as the top ways the Diaspora could help Jamaica. Returning to Jamaica was found to be a better option than remittances. As Mr Sydial said after the Conference closed: “The Diaspora Conference this year was so crucial as the persons who attended demonstrated a passion to see what they could give back to Jamaica from an investment and political perspective. The Government was also saying the rights things – but then they always say the right things. Now is the time for action”.
The evening ended with the conclusion of our long-running prize draw. The lucky winner of the spa for two at a Marriott hotel was Vernon Simpson, who attended the Brixton event. To book your place for our next evening of talks on Wednesday, 14 September in New Cross Gate, use moonshot@bhj-ltd.com or 020 3318 0993. As usual, the event runs from 6.30 – 9.30pm.
BHJ in the West Midlands and Nottingham We will be in Wolverhampton on Wednesday 5 October, at the Bagot Inn – email bagot@bhj-ltd.com. We will be in Birmingham on Wednesday 12 October, at the Afro-Caribbean Centre – email afcc@bhj-ltd.com. We will be in Nottingham on Wednesday 19 October, at the Afro-Caribbean National Artistic Centre – email acna@bhj-ltd.com. To book places and for more information, please email or call 020 3318 0993. As usual, all events are from 6.30 – 9.30pm.
Bespoke Homes Jamaica Telephone 020 3318 0993 Mobile 077 5157 2691 www.bhj-ltd.com lillalee@bhj-ltd.com