Things that Matter: Letter from Jamaica – land of wood & water
“Down the way where the nights are gay, And the sun shines daily on the mountain top,
I took a trip on a sailing ship, And when I reached Jamaica I made it stop.” (Jamaica Farewell, by Harry Belafonte)
Between 1962, entering the University of the West Indies at Mona and last week, arriving for the UWI Medical Alumni Reunion, I’ve landed in this fabulous Land of Wood and Water 163 times. (I’m obsessional – I count things!) And each and every time I come I have the same thrill of arrival, with the lyrics and tune of Jamaica Farewell ringing in my ears. The combination of beauty and emotion is always overwhelming, and the reconnections with scores of friends is, for me, a command performance.
Alumni Associations have a number of goals and objectives. First, there’s the general goal of connectivity, keeping alumni in touch with the programmes and activities of their university. But the other major goals are to provide financial support to the University and its building needs and programmes, in other words GIVING BACK; to assist the University in kind, such as contribution of teaching or consulting on programmes – academic or non-academic; assisting students with financial needs, or establishing incentives and prizes for outstanding achievements; and fostering fellowship among alumni themselves. This is a splendid goal in itself, but shouldn’t mask the major goal of GIVING BACK.
The first UWI Medical Alumni chapter was started in Barbados with a meeting on March 25th, 1984, led by Dr. Jeff Massay, cardiologist. The first Reunion of all chapters was held in Jamaica in November, 1998, just a few weeks after Hurricane Gilbert damaged a great part of the Mona Campus. Reunions have also been held in Barbados (twice), Trinidad and Tobago (once), and St. Kitts. This Reunion was No. 12.
The post Gilbert Reunion of 1988 brought out the best in alumni, with major contributions to the Medical Faculty in Jamaica. This was followed the next time in Barbados, with generous alumni such as my classmate the late Dr. Erling Harry of St. Vincent, a cardiologist practising in the USA, starting the pledges going at the dinner by giving US$10 000 to the cause. Since then The 1948 Society was formed to allow alumni in the USA to be more generous by taking advantage of tax incentives there. This sub-group was named for the first students entering UWI in 1948 – a group that included our own public health hero Dr. Ken Standard and Dr. Lance Bannister. And between the Alumni Association and the 1948 Society, many students have benefited from scholarships to a total value of several hundred thousand dollars, donations have been given to upgrade the Medical Library at Mona, to establish a Surgical Skills Laboratory, to support residency training in the USA, to support the Secretariat of the Association at Mona, to encourage students with stethoscopes, prizes, and financial assistance at times of need, and so on. We also published the beautiful book celebrating UWI at 50 years in 1998, with amazing photos and text – and it’s still available.
The fact is that governments can’t do everything. The University is always cash strapped. And graduates, many or most of whom have benefited by free tertiary education, have a moral obligation to GIVE BACK. We do not have a culture of philanthropy, and the sociologists will perhaps explain this on our history of slavery and colonialism. But as a society, we need to accept the economic and social realities, and recognise that a life of service and giving is the only way to a fulfilling life.
Now a word about Jamaica. Our Reunion has divided its time between the Jewel Hotel Runaway Bay on the North Coast, and the Pegasus Kingston. The Jewel is one of a chain, and is all-inclusive – promoting gross over-indulgence, of course! Service was splendid – not quite as warm, charming and perfect as in the far East, but really good and exhilarating. I believe some of our hotels and hospitality services can learn from them, although in my own limited local experience our Crane Resort has outstanding staff at every level.
But at the Jewel, like several other North Coast resorts, the sea bathing leaves a lot to be desired. Swimming is limited to a narrow strip less than 30 yards wide and about 150 yards long, roped off from the reef beyond. But food and drink choices are unlimited. It’s worth noting that the Jewel has only 268 rooms. There are hotels of 1 000 to 2 000 rooms in J! In fact, when a Bajan is building a hotel, he deliberates if to build 50 or 100 rooms. Jamaicans choose 1 000 or 2 000 – a different approach altogether.
The Pegasus was busier, and more business-like. And to our amazement, those of us who’ve lived in Jamaica and crave ackee and salt fish (the national dish, made with ackee from Africa and salt fish from Canada!) we were dismayed to find that they only serve it on Wednesdays. Inexplicable, as the trees across the country were laden with ackee!
There were many highlights for me, apart from the bonding with so many friends. I had the honour of giving the citations for three eminent awardees – Dr. Doyle Slifer, a most generous benefactor of the Ben Crichlow scholarship, Professor John Stewart, neurologist and text book author, and Dr. Ouida Golding, “Renaissance woman doctor” of Jamaica. And we’ve been privileged to have the Chancellor, Sir George Alleyne, with us at the Reunion and the Awards Dinner, with his inimitable charm and anecdotes.
But a word about heritage tourism in Jamaica. While Jamaica is famous for its magnificent Rose Hall Great House, Spanish Town Square, Bob Marley Museum and many other built sites, many of us chose a Nature Heritage tour. This was a twelve-hour experience across the island, through the famous cockpit country to the Appleton distillery, then the extraordinary YS Falls, and the Black River cruise – all with a brilliant, humours guide.
The Appleton Rum tour was extremely well thought out, highly professional and an A1 experience. The YS Falls must be seen to be believed – a series of five waterfalls and pristine pools for bathing, with a wooden walkway along the banks, developed by a private group. And the black river cruise was a serene experience. So “I’m sad to say, I’m on my way, won’t be back for many a day, my heart is down, my head is turning around, I left many friends in Kingston town”.
Postscript: A quote from Corrie Scott and Oneika Small, curator and driving force and guardian angel of the Independence art exhibition at Manor Lodge: “Curator Oneika Small tells this wonderful story. “For the last two days my son has been presenting me with drawings on my arrival home. Some of the best drawings I have ever seen from him. He would be the first to tell you that he is a footballer and not an artist. I encourage whatever he wants to do as long as he or I won’t be arrested. I said to him “Like the exhibition inspired you?” to which he replied “The exhibition would inspire anyone”. So much positive has come from “We Pledge Allegiance. I am giving Thanks.” Do go and see this wonderful exhibition of our Explosion of Art.
Happy Independence everyone!
(Professor Fraser is past Dean of Medical Sciences, UWI and Professor Emeritus of Medicine. Website: profhenryfraser.com)