Veteran selector Tony Matterhorn captured the Sumfest Heavyweight Sound Clash title using his experience and vast catalogue to see off the challenge of Soul Supreme in the final on Thursday, July 20 inside Pier One.
Matterhorn took home $500,000 and the Sumfest Heavyweight Sound Clash Belt in fine style as Soul Supreme had no answer for his dub of Ouuu by rapper Young M.A.
Matterhorn went from villain to hero as he used his experience to win over a hostile crowd inside the Pier One venue. By the third round, he managed to sway the crowd in his favour and never looked back.
“I knew I had it won from the second or third round. I always hunt down the titles that are new, so once there is a new title up for grabs I am going to go for it and now I am the first champion of Sumfest’s Heavyweight Clash! I focused on Soul Supreme mostly as I did not want to get caught up in the fascination with the other sounds, they were the best challenger, so I had to be careful to not make any loose mistakes. The competition was beautiful, at first we were worried about the rules but by the second round, everything went smoothly,” said Matterhorn.
The Sumfest Heavyweight Sound Clash went retro sound system style, with five stages, one for each sound, around the venue and a sixth stage for the judges, Cordell ‘Skatta’ Burrell, Dr. Sonjah Stanley Niaah and Colin Hinds. Patrons walked around to each station, but by round three, most patrons began to stick close to the sound that had won them over. The dynamic layout embodies the vision and personality of the DownSound Entertainment CEO, Josef Bogdanovich.
The first round was 10 minutes of juggling by each sound which introduced them to the audience. The second round was a challenge round with each sound having to play their five best 90s collaborations, on dub or 45. Yard Beat was originally eliminated but reinstated in round three. Round three saw the sounds being grouped, with Warrior Sound and No Limit being tasked with playing their 5 best Buju Banton songs plus three best singing vocals. Meanwhile, Soul Supreme, Matterhorn and Yard Beat were asked to play their five best Vybz Kartel songs along with three singing vocals. No Limit and Warrior Sound were eliminated by virtue of the weakest crowd response.
The clash then moved into the dub segment with Yard Beat, Matterhorn and Soul Supreme exchanging five dubs each in a tune for tune format. Yard Beat was eliminated to set up the final between Soul Supreme and Matterhorn, who none could argue were the two best sounds on the night.
Sanjay Jackson, the young Cornwall College mechanic
Volney Barrett and Craig Oates – Freelance Writers
Describing Cornwall College’s mechanic sensation, Sanjay Jackson, as anything but a prodigy, is an error many should be cautioned against making. He is able to completely take apart an engine and put it back together in a short amount of time, able to replace engine transmissions, and he is also able to do front end and basic engine servicing. This would all be completely unimpressive, had it not been for the fact that the prodigy is only 13 years old.
Sanjay Jackson is the President and Founder of Cornwall College’s recently established Automotive Club geared at educating members on vehicle make and model structure, maintenance procedures, driving and engine repairs – theory and practice.
“I sat down one day and pulled apart an engine piece by piece and looked at everything and said to myself, ‘if I can pull it down, I must be able to put it back together’. I can do from basic engine service to front end service as well as remove and replace an engine and transmission,” said Sanjay in an interview with the Western Mirror.
He added: “Nothing sounds better than a well-tuned engine…from the whistle of the intake to the rumble of the exhaust.”
PASSION FOR AUTO MECHANICS
It all started in the first form for Sanjay, who hails from Tucker, Irwin community in St. James. According to him, he has a passion for cars and engines, enjoys researching and learning more about them and loves to share that passion. Already, he has been awarded a Level One HEART Certificate.
“It started in the Seventh Grade when I was at my mother’s house over the summer holidays and I heard a loud noise outside. I went to look and I saw it was a car they were trying to start, so I sat down and watched as they tried different methods of starting the vehicle,” Sanjay remembered.
As the holidays passed, he found himself at that same garage paying close attention to what mechanics were doing and learning the skill. One day someone asked him to help them pull a bolt and he did so successfully. From there, he researched the majority of the things he now knows on the Internet.
FORMING THE AUTOMOTIVE CLUB
“It was a pity that Herbert Morrison (Technical High School) had (an) automotive course and Cornwall College did not because our school is the best of the best. So, I said to my classmate Bryan Smith, what if we made our own automotive programme? But in fact, it turned into a club,” Sanjay disclosed.
The club currently has 35 members ranging from Grades Eight to 11. They had a driving course that was done in January where students were taught to drive a manual transmission (standard) vehicle. Sanjay also boasted that he is quite capable of driving a standard vehicle and enjoys doing so.
“It was put together by Theo Dennis. He lent us his 1993 Suzuki Swift for the practical test. Nicholas Douglas taught the theory of driving. Jovane Blagrove collected the money to buy gasoline for the car… other individuals assisted us with other aspects of the club,” the Eighth Grader who will enter Grade Nine in September, explained.
He further explained: “We also did an engine pull down and rebuild. A friend of mine – Brian Campbell, donated a Toyota engine for that activity. I took that engine to school and I showed members how to pull apart the engine step by step as well as named the parts and so on.”
Sanjay has led classes on how the engine works from a theoretical and practical perspective. He plans to pursue a career as a freelance mechanical engineer where he builds racing/drifting cars and become a professional drifter.
Trevor Tomlinson, a member of the Cornwall College Old Boys Association, who was a part of the class of 1991, has rendered assistance to Sanjay and his club.
“Our 91 Group is pleased with the high level of skill that this youngster brings to the table, and to add to this he has displayed good leadership skills. We will be seeking to assist him to achieve his goals in whatever way we can,” Tomlinson said.
In the meantime, Sanjay has a project coming up where he plans to build a drift kart. He will be seeking assistance in fabricating and purchasing the parts. He can be found on Instagram at kid_driver_jay464.
ALL EYES ON THE BALL:
It’s all eyes are on the ball as MoBay Cricket Club Knights’ Mark Wright leaps over his opponents to make a shot, with Jaguars’ Ryan Harrison getting ready to grab the rebound in action from the Western Basketball Association’s iDrade/iCool Elite Basketball League at the Montego Bay Cricket Club court. Jaguars came out the victors in a competitive game to land a place in the best-of-three Final, which begins on Thursday.
-Barrington Flemming Photo
It will be another battle royal, come Thursday when perennial rivals defending Champions Catherine Hall All Stars and Granville Jaguars meet in Game One of the best-of-three Final of the Western Basketball Association iDrade/iCool Elite Basketball League at the Montego Bay Cricket club Court at 8p.m.
Granville Jaguars, the number one seed, fought off the challenge of the fourth-seeded MoBay Cricket Club Knights 82-72, to propel themselves into the final for a third straight year.
Mark Wright of the Knights registered a game-high 20 points, grabbed 13 rebounds, along with 2 assists, three steals and a blocked shot in a losing effort.
Cleon Morgan, 18 points, and Levar Rose 17, combined for 35 points to help steer the Jaguars to a ten-point victory.
The game was a competitive one as the Knights kept pace with their highly fancied rivals, with the scored tied on numerous occasions, with the half time score reading Jaguars 39, with Knights three points adrift on 36.
The battle raged on between the rivals, with both trading baskets, in many instances popping three pointers at intervals to jolt the fans into excitement. The third quarter ended 58-54 in favour of the Jaguars, but with Knights still in striking distance.
However, Knights suffered another fourth quarter meltdown and despite their valiant efforts, could not peg back the Jaguars, who then cruised into the final on a ten-point margin of victory.
Meanwhile, Catherine Hall the number two seed sealed their berth in the final on Sunday in a thrilling semi-final match up with number three seed Holland Saints downing the Trelawny-based team, 78-55.
Craig Dorman led the charge for the All Stars, posting a game-high 24 points while pulling down 5 rebounds, recording one assist and two steals.
Michael Johnson was equally effective for the Saints in a losing effort, netting 23 points, grabbing 24 rebounds, while registering two steals.
The game got off to a pulsating start with both teams posting points on the board at regular intervals and with just seconds left on the clock and the score at 30-28 in favour of the Saints, Catherine Hall responded, scoring to end the half tied at 30-30
The pendulum swung full tilt in favour of the All Stars in the fourth quarter as the Saints, seemingly overwhelmed by the pace of the game and losing two players who fouled out, lost steam, missing numerous shots and easy layups, while Catherine Hall pounced upon every error to make them pay.
The final whistle ended the Saint’s misery and heightened Catherine Hall’s joy.
Crime scene detectives comb the area in Paradise where the Johnson brothers were shot and killed on Monday. KT Photo
Michael Nattoo – Staff Reporter
Even as our security forces continue their thrust to lasso the raging crime beast here in the Wild West, the reputation of the Friendly City continues to crumble with each domestic disagreement escalated to incidences of violent crimes. This time, a family dispute is to be blamed for the death of two brothers in the Paradise Crescent area of Norwood, St. James.
Dead are 26 year-old Patmore Johnson, otherwise called ‘Fruity’, and his brother, 20 year-old Ockran Johnson, otherwise called ‘Wissy Wassy’, both labourers of Loop Road, Paradise Crescent, Albion, St. James.
Details reaching the Western Mirror are that about 8:25 a.m. on Monday, both men were standing, talking to another male, when an argument apparently developed. It is further reported that during that fracas, a gun came into play. Both brothers, Ockran and Patmore, who were shot, ran a short distance, before collapsing in their yard. They were pronounced dead at hospital.
Deputy Superintendent in charge of Area One, Gary McKenzie, in relaying further details on the double murder to the Western Mirror, revealed that preliminary investigations by first responders to the scene of the crime, indicate that the deadly dispute-turned-murder had its genesis the night before. “Family members and bystanders who were on the scene, were pretty candid in describing what led to the brothers’ death,” McKenzie offered. “From the reports of these individuals, along with other findings,” McKenzie continued, “the dispute started sometime last night, and concluded in this tragedy,” the senior officer said. When asked whether or not the shooting may have, in any way, been gang-related, Deputy Superintendent McKenzie explained that from all indications of reports and preliminary detective work, the police have substantial reason to believe that this was a family dispute gone wrong.
The police have identified Oran Dunn, otherwise called ‘Mike’, and Daniel Hallwood, otherwise called ‘Little Chris’/ ‘Chris’, as persons who may be able to assist them with their investigations into the shooting death of these brothers.
Five spent casings were recovered from the scene of the crime.
SHOOTING WITH INTENT
A few hours later in the same community of Paradise Crescent, in an incident the police have reason to suspect may be related to the earlier shooting death of brothers Ockran and Patmore Johnson, a Taxi Operator of Loop Road, narrowly escaped death, as marauding gunmen opened fire at his premises as he was preparing to pack up and leave. He revealed to detectives that around 2:36 pm, he heard four explosions as he packed, but when he went to investigate, he saw no one outside. He later observed that his kitchen window had been damaged, as well as his counter, resulting in close to 30,000 dollars in damage.
“We are not able to definitively say whether or not this incident is linked to the double murder earlier,” Deputy Superintendent McKenzie explained to the Western Mirror, “but there is evidence to suggest that the two may not be isolated incidents.”
Though the police recovered three 9MM spent casings and one expended bullet, no one was hurt in the incident.
ANCHOVY GUN FIND
Meanwhile, a major operation conducted on Sunday, July 16, 2017, in the community of Anchovy, St. James, yielded an impressive find of one AK47 and a .38 Revolver, the fruits of a joint effort between the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaican Defense Force. Several rounds of ammunition were also recovered. This, as the police continue their push to remove illegal guns from the streets, and arrest the growth and influence of criminal elements in these communities. To bolster these efforts, the JCF is continuing its community intervention efforts simultaneously to change the mindset of youngsters within these communities.
Eight persons were taken in as a result of the finds.
Audley Shaw - Minister of Finance and the Public Service - JIS photo
First there was the Mombasa grass, then the $800 million bushing programme and now the $8.4 million phone bill, and no decisive action from the Prime Minister. No one has been held accountable. Prime Minister Andrew Holness has arguably marketed himself as new and different from other Jamaican Prime Ministers and politicians, but I can see no exemplars of difference. If he is anything like he has marketed himself to be, he will fire his Finance Minister post- haste without consideration of the internal political fallout.
As to the Finance Minister, oh how the mighty have fallen. So Minister of Finance, Audley Shaw, has found himself embroiled in an embarrassing and undeniable scandal of his own making. Shaw, a man who is the chief muckraker of Jamaican politics, has made a political living out of triumphant scandal mongering. Now, with the revelation of his mindboggling $ 8.4 million telephone bill, he is acting chastened. I dear say, where is the haughtiness now Mr. Shaw?
While one should not gloat at the fallen, I can feel no empathy for Shaw, he deserves his comeuppance. In his public abasement, I am reminded of the Jamaican adage: ‘the same knife that sticks goat sticks sheep.’ What has happened to the bombast and gloating sarcasm he is known for when he chronicles the real and or perceived misdeeds of the PNP? I find it remarkable that Mr. Shaw would sheepishly offer his inability to manipulate technology as his lame excuse for his excesses. Come now Mr. Shaw, do you really think Jamaicans are that stupid? If you can’t use a smart phone how can you run the country’s finances? We are not all fools, come better than that.
If their public pronouncements and defense of the indefensible are anything to go by, apparently there are some in the JLP who believes that Jamaicans are fools. Dr. Saphire Longmore is blaming ‘reckless business practices’ by the telecom provider. One Bruce Golding, whom I suspect to be also one of Jamaica’s former P.Ms, joined the choir in a letter to a daily newspaper. In relating an experience he had with a Jamaican telecom provider, Golding wrote; “ It would be useful to get a breakdown of the charges” before noting, “I had a bad experience last November when, after attending a two-day conference in Beijing, my next monthly bill was over $360,000.00.” He further stated in his missive, “For Minister Shaw, who has to travel much more frequently, these charges would be multiples of mine.”
HOGWASH
What hogwash, as Jamaican telephone users, we have all felt the hands of the telecom giants and their extortionate charges. We either pay or lose service, we would never be allowed to rack up more than $4 million in charges in a month. Each provider informs you by messaging, of your monthly billing if you are a post paid customer, not only that, they all so will inform you that you have exceeded your credit limit.
I suppose the same policy obtains for government officials so there are no acceptable excuses for Mr. Shaw’s reckless telephonic usage. The implausibility of Mr. Shaw’s supposed ignorance cannot and should not be ignored. Between September 2016 and October 2016, Shaw’s telephone bill went from $622, 192. 54 to $4,220,814.11, previously, his August 2016 bill was $1,540,135.86. That’s a total of $6,383,142.51 in phone call charges for that three month period.
Those telephonic charges beg the questions, what earth shattering happened in that three-month period? Where was Shaw between August and October 2016? Was he here in Jamaica or abroad? If he was abroad, what are the benefits of his travels and the exorbitant phone billing for that period? From Mr. Shaw’s Facebook postings, his only trip outside Jamaica was in October when he attended the IMF meeting in Washington D.C. Further from those postings, I have gleaned he was here in Jamaica in late September as Hurricane Matthew threatened Jamaica.
Why then, does he have a combined phone bill for $4,843,006.65 for the months of September and October? If excessive roaming fee by the telecom provider is to be blamed, I want to know, what the duration of the IMF meeting in Washington D.C was. When did he return to Jamaica? These little details are of importance because we don’t pay roaming charges whilst we are in country.
As a supposed anti-corruption crusader, does Shaw realise that by accepting a more than $1 million write-off on the contentious telephone bill from his telecom provider, he has opened up himself to potential quid pro quo requests at least or in the extreme, blackmail. Nothing in Mr. Shaw’s action with regards to the matter, can elicit confidence in his continued stewardship of the second most important arm of governance in Jamaica.
SERIOUS QUESTIONS
The financial and ethical integrity of this administration faces serious questions. Wherein, we are faced with a Finance Minister who is ignorant of the most basic knowledge of Smart phones operation if he is to be believed. One who has opened up himself, and the government of this country, to potential blackmail by those with vested interest in the telecommunications industry. Can Shaw justifiably say no to that telephone provider if he is asked for a waiver? Will that $1 million odd in personal write-off be deemed a tax write off for this fiscal year or in future years? Will Shaw identify the telecom provider? What were the explicit and implicit terms of the write off? Shaw must be instructed to be forthright with the Jamaican people.
Prime Minister Holness seems to be treating this most glaring of ‘missteps’ as another nine-day talk shop topic. Nothing could be further from the truth. We want answers; we want heads to roll as an example that we will not tolerate the wastage of our hard-earned tax dollars. Some Jamaicans have noted the alacrity with which Trinidad and Tobago’s Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley fired cabinet colleague, Marlene McDonald, within 48 hours after it was revealed that she allegedly had ties to T and T’s criminal underground. Why then, can’t this so called new and different Prime Minister, find the cojones to fire his Finance Minister and other cabinet ministers who have been implicated in wrong doings even if they have not been proven to be criminal in nature? A word of advice to Holness: perception is greater than reality.
Holness’ response to the bushing fiasco, the Mombasa grass and the phone bill debacle does not make him new and different; in fact, it has concretized the notion that he is cut from the same cloth as his fellow politicians from whom he tried to distance himself. No better herring, no better barrel. Party supremacy trumps nationhood and good governance.
If good governance was a central pillar of his administration, Holness would not mandate that the Ministry of Finance formulate a policy to regulate /cap ministerial phone bills. As the aforementioned daily so succinctly opined, “Mr. Holness shouldn’t ask the mongoose to be the overseer of the hen house.” That’s so true, Shaw and his minions at the Finance Ministry should never be allowed to participate in, much less devise, such a policy as indicated by P.M Holness.
Peace! moco_barrett1@hotmail.com
EDITOR’S NOTE: Except for our editorials on these pages, the views expressed in other correspondence to us do not necessarily reflect our view and way of thinking.
Chef Ocary Campbell poses with his Kitchen Backup System (KBS)
Michael Nattoo – Staff Reporter
“But why would you want to do this Marvin? Come on man, find something else, something better to do.” Ocary Marvin Campbell, as he sat in the offices of the Western Mirror, seemed entranced as he recalled the memory of how he almost became one of the country’s Most Wanted, after he commissioned a welding technician to make him a handgun he had designed. This was almost 20 years ago. Now 42, Campbell has been a chef for 26 years, is the father of 4 – and can now add inventor to that long list of skills.
The enthusiastic chef is now the patented owner and inventor of the Kitchen Backup System (KBS) – a mobile cooking system designed specifically for cases of emergency. And though he has received no more than a secondary education to achieve this feat, it wouldn’t be farfetched to say that despite his many professions over the years, the seasoned chef has only been masquerading in those roles, with his true calling being that of an inventor.
“I have always wanted my kids to see me as someone they could look up to,” Campbell revealed of his four kids, one adopted, to the Western Mirror, “and I thought this – inventing things, could be one way I could do that. I wanted them to see me like a Usain Bolt… You know?” Now, Campbell believes he has achieved that to some degree. “Now, my daughter, who is four years old, can’t wait to see me in the evenings, and she loves to cook, or at least she tries to – despite me telling her otherwise,” Campbell laughingly revealed. Despite what observers may consider to be quite the stable life, it hasn’t always been that way for Campbell. In fact, his life now is worlds away from the death sentence it appeared to be then.
STRUGGLES
“Although I was born in MoBay, I moved to Clarendon for 6 years with my mother and stepfather. While there, I was placed at the May Pen Secondary School,” Campbell explained. This would be the genesis of the struggles that almost pushed him to a life of crime. Campbell revealed that his mother had migrated to the Grand Cayman in the hopes of finding a better job, and his father was barely around at the time. On most days, it was just Campbell and his little brother. “I never got to go to school on Fridays because I had to go and hustle for the two of us. So most Thursdays and Fridays, I would be out on the road trying to get even a piece of bread to take home for me and my brother. As a result, I couldn’t even read, I just knew I had to survive.” With a number of things going downhill for the young Campbell at that point, that was when he decided to design a homemade gun – a move he believed would be his ticket out – out of hardships or out of this life, something had got to give at that point, Campbell believed.
He remembers the day he went to the welding technician, who would ultimately convince him to rethink his decisions. “I wasn’t always this way,” Campbell told the Western Mirror, “I was young and confused, and hungry, and thought that was my way out.” But his resolve was soon shattered when the welding technician, who knew him, reminded him of just how talented he was, and how much promise he had. That one moment of belief, and confidence from someone else in him, drove Campbell away from those thoughts, and onto a path that would see him trying his hand at a number of different things.
THE JACKSON FOUR
Campbell attempted a number of different careers – from washing cars and packing bags in a supermarket, but the most promising times came when he landed a gig in the hotel industry as part of a dancing group – The Jackson Four, “because we couldn’t find a fifth member,” Campbell joked. And though this gig didn’t generate an attractive income, it was better than the life he had planned for himself at the time, so he kept at it. His perseverance would reward him as one fateful day, Campbell recalls dancing in a hotel when “A sweet smell lick mi!” While dancing, Campbell couldn’t help himself, he had to know where the food was, and how to cook it. By then, Campbell was in his early 20s, and was ready for a change, and after tasting the food, he knew exactly what his next career would be. “I went to take classes every day, and although I wasn’t getting paid, I showed up every day and tried to learn. I learnt from a number of different chefs, in Negril, St. James, all over.” It took Campbell almost 4 years to effectively learn some of the basics of cooking skills he would come to eventually master, but it was worth it. Now, Campbell looks to push his invention – the KBS – a multi-compartment cooking system that does not require the use of gas or electricity.
“This is just the beginning of the inventions for me,” Campbell offered, “and although it has not been easy, I will not stop. I think this is what I want to be doing,” the chef said, his face alight with a smile of optimism.
Kaye Falconer, the former St James Police Constable who was convicted in February for harbouring a fugitive in relation to the 2013 escape of inmate Greg Taylor from police custody, was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison in the St. James Parish Court on Friday, July 7.
Parish Judge Natalie Hart-Hines handed down the sentence to a tearful Constable Falconer.
There were protracted delays in her sentencing for several reasons and it was also revealed that she was battling with clinical depression and hypertension and was admitted to the Cornwall Regional Hospital for a while.
A report that was presented to the court described certain ordeals that Falconer experienced at childhood. It was also disclosed that she lost her husband in 2012, her son in 2013 and her mother in 2016. In light of that, her attorney, Adrian Dayes, pointed out that those series of incidents could have contributed to her deteriorating condition since 2013.
“She has a condition of depression that is not in remission. A non-custodial sentence will allow for a return to normal functionality,” said Dayes.
“What we have before us is a person who is of good character. She would have been demonstrating signs of depression leading up to the offence… She was having a problem with cognition and judgement,” the attorney added.
In passing sentence, Judge Hart-Hines told Falconer that her actions of having Taylor, who she knew was a fugitive from justice, at her home, constituted a breach of the public’s trust in the police.
“It is a very serious offence, in that you were personally and actively keeping the man (Taylor) from the arm of justice… The public’s confidence in the police has been negatively impacted,” Hart-Hines said to Falconer.
Having said all of that, the judge said she would not impose the maximum of three years and took into consideration Falconer’s age, gender and her medical condition, but added that she has not seen any evidence of remorse from the accused woman. Judge Hart-Hines, however, made an order for her to get counselling and for her medical condition to be monitored.
Falconer’s sister, who gave character evidence, begged the judge to extend mercy to her and pointed out that her sister had gotten worse since she was found guilty. With tears in her eyes, the sister also said that she was of the opinion that Falconer could not handle incarceration and was fearful that she would go into depression and die.
Falconer was arrested and charged after an escaped inmate, Greg Taylor, was recaptured at her home in Glendevon, St James on February 24, 2013.
Taylor, who the police had described as dangerous, had escaped custody at Freeport Police Station in Montego Bay under questionable circumstances on January 30, 2013.
It is reported that at the time of Taylor’s recapture, a police team went to Falconer’s house with a warrant, and subsequently found the escaped prisoner hiding under a table at the house clad in a bathrobe and bedroom slippers.
Other police personnel were also charged in connection with the incident.
Shian Graham sporting the braids she wore to her graduation
Michael Nattoo – Staff Reporter
When Shian Graham nestled herself at the back in the sea of graduates at Cambridge High School’s recent graduation on July 5, 2017, tears flowed freely down her cheeks. Perhaps she was crying because just last October, she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, and was given a 50/50 chance to live.
Or perhaps it was because at just 16 years old, she lost all her hair during chemotherapy, suffered, but managed to beat the cancer, returning to her beloved school as their Deputy Head Girl and Top Student, and on graduation, as their co-Valedictorian. The truth? Young Graham was crying because despite her accolades and extenuating circumstances, she was denied the privilege of partaking in her graduation ceremony because she opted to wear braids – an option she considered unavoidable due to her condition, but one her graduation coordinators were not willing to overlook.
Graham, who was originally a student of Edwin Allen High, was transferred to Cambridge High School in January of 2015, and expressed to this reporter that she was “very excited” at the prospect of being a member of the school, and “appreciated it so much.” And, although the youngster eventually cemented herself as one of the school’s top academic performers, she initially struggled to find her footing after starting the institution in Grade 9. After comfortably settling in, however, the co-valedictorian-to-be had taken CXC Mathematics in Grade 10, earning herself a Grade 2 in that sitting.
“Shian is brilliant,” Sophia Black-Hines, Shian’s mother, said when she sat down for an interview with the Western Mirror. “She would always spend time going through her school work, and would always help her little sister at nights, so much so that her sister ended up making the Principal’s Honour Roll at her school,” Black-Hines added of the now distraught teenager, who feels like she has been robbed of a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “Honestly,” Shian’s mother further added, “for most of the things I’ve learnt, Shian was the one who taught me – that’s how good she is.” Mrs. Black-Hines did not spare her emotions, alleging that the actions taken by the teacher on Shian, who was an exemplary student, seemed to have been maliciously fueled. “How else can I look at this? It was just one day, and because of her circumstances, Shian had to get her hair done that way. Why would they simply deny her like that?” The disgruntled Black-Hines asked, before the interjection of Christopher Hines, Shian’s (step)father.
After being away from his daughter, and not getting the chance to physically be there with her as she battled through chemotherapy, Hines was scheduled for his vacation leave in April, and was anxious to come home to see her. However, Shian stopped him. “Daddy, please don’t take your vacation leave yet. If you take it now, you won’t be able to come to my graduation in July,” Hines recalls of that tough conversation he had with his daughter. And while it was difficult for him to stay away for that long, Hines honoured his daughter’s wishes, and decided to wait until her graduation to take his leave. As it turns out, however, Hines’ trip appears to have been in vain, as Shian, though given her certificate after the ceremony, did not get to walk across that stage for all who came to support her, especially her father.
“I begged him to make that sacrifice, but all he got in return for his sacrifice was embarrassment and disappointment,” the now 17-year-old related, who celebrated her birthday last month. Similar sentiments are expressed by a number of Shian’s family members, who were obviously angered by what they believed to be insensitivity and a lack of proper judgment on the part of the teacher who stopped her.
Shian Graham, after chemotherapy
In a voice note to the teacher, one of Shian’s aunts, a social worker in the USA, had this to say: “What was your real purpose of not allowing Shian to participate? Imagine, Shian has gone through so much for the past couple of months, yet you stopped her from enjoying this one day? Well, let me tell you something – I am going to take this to the Ministry of Education because what you did to that young lady was very wrong.” The voice note went on to criticize the actions of the teacher as discriminatory, and described the result as coming from an education system that lacks reasonable flexibility.
In light of those allegations, the Western Mirror contacted the Cambridge High School, and spoke to its Principal, Mavis Hamilton.
SCHOOL’S REBUTTAL
Ms. Hamilton confirmed that such events did unfold on the day in question, July 5, and that the actions taken by the graduation coordinator were in no way personally motivated, but came from a place of fairness to all students, and in respect of the school’s explicitly stated rules. “Graham reached the graduation ceremony late, and under those circumstances, we could have enforced the rules and require that she not be admitted to the ceremony, but we didn’t.” She further explained that with Graham being the school’s standard bearer, it would have sent a dangerous message to girls at the ceremony who were previously reprimanded and had their extensions removed, if Graham was allowed in the ceremony as she was.
When asked if Graham’s specific circumstances – particularly the fact that she had lost all her hair during chemotherapy – were factored into the decisions taken against her, Hamilton revealed that Graham did not seek to get permission for her extensions, and that her hair had sufficiently grown back following the months after chemotherapy. “The hair she had was more than satisfactory,” Hamilton said, “and had she asked permission to wear braids, perhaps we would have been better able to address this issue with as little conflict as possible.”
Principal Hamilton further added that the parents of Graham did not see themselves in the wrong, and did not express any respect for the rules the institution had set, concluding that she will always stand up for what is right, despite intimidation, not what the majority will vote for.
Shian Graham’s family is intent on getting the matter investigated, and have threatened legal action, should justice elude them.
In foreground, a section of the Class of 2017, comprising over 200 graduates
Clinton Pickering – Freelance Writer
On the way to fulfilling its vision of being becoming “the best in the Caribbean delivering technical education,” Herbert Morrison Technical High is, arguably, the leading and most sought-after high school in Western Jamaica.
In tribute to the school’s 40th anniversary, which it is currently celebrating, the Western Mirror highlights some of the achievements for the anniversary year as presented by Principal Paul Adams at last week Wednesday’s Graduation 2017 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.
But first, a glance at where Herbert Morrison Technical is coming from. It was built as part of a comprehensive plan to significantly increase educational institutions in Western Jamaica. Originally it was named the Catherine Hall High School, and subsequently renamed in honour of philanthropist and former Custos of St James, Dr. Herbert Morrison. Even then, the name was Herbert Morrison Comprehensive High School, from which the popular “Compre” was derived. It was after another decision was taken to give Montego Bay a dedicated technical school that it became Herbert Morrison Technical High School.
The outstanding contribution of Lloyd Whinstanley as pioneer principal set the school on a path of excellence that Mr. Adams has built upon and he currently wears the crown of top high school principal nationally.
MORE DEVELOPMENT
In its continued development, Herbert Morrison Technical is to open a Call Centre in September. This was made possible with $4 million allocated under S.T.E.M by the Ministry of Education.
An additional $3 million from the Ministry will enable the labs to be fully equipped and refurbished for the next school year.
Also by September, the school’s gym will be upgraded through a contribution of $4.25 million by the Tourism Enhancement Fund.
Against the longstanding debate over the pros and cons of co-ed schools in Jamaica at this time, Herbert Morrison has defied the odds and continues to lift standards with remarkable achievements recorded among staff and the 1200 students, both academically and in extra-curricular activities.
Among the outstanding achievers are Head Boy, Daniel Davis, and Dominique Ramsingh, who mastered 10 and 11 CSEC subjects respectively in external examinations, while Ashari Service in Food and Nutrition and Devontee Steele in Mechanical Technology, outperformed everyone else in the Caribbean.
Herbert Morrison also topped the Caribbean in a number of CAPE subjects, Xavier Plunkett in Logistics and Supply Chain, Asha Lee Kelly, Shantal Artwell, Chevelle Fullerton, and Kerry-Ann James in Tourism and Dejaun Stewart in Electrical and Electronics, justifying Principal Adams declaration: “Herbert Morrison Technical High School remains an Ivy League school.”
From internal exams, 11 students made the Principal’s Honour Roll while 87 made the Credit List.
ACHIEVEMENT IN SPORTS
Achievements in sports were highlighted by Richard Thompson making the National U17 squad and Raheem Heaven, Conroy Allen and Mathew Graham invited to the National U15.
In basketball, Herbert Morrison’s Under-19 Team won the ISSA Western High School Championship and placed 3rd in the National Championship while Dave Black was named U-19 Coach of the Year and Tafari Vassell and Ralique Grant offered scholarships at University of the West Indies, Mico University and GC Foster College.
The school also emerged victorious in the Under-16 and Under-14 ISSA Western High School Championships. Two players, Ryheem Barrett and David Gordon, were selected for National U-17 Team while Dave Black was also named Coach of the Year.
In track and field, Coach Claude Grant was honoured at the ISSA Boys & Girls Championship as a top coach and Bonanza Cummings offered a scholarship to the Kennesaw State University, while Daniel Clarke got an offer to South Dakota University and Debra Wallace to Linden Wood University
Herbert Morrison excelled in 4-H in various categories at both regional and national levels, emerging parish champion for the fourth consecutive year.
Successes were achieved in several other areas of school and community involvement, among them the Social Development Commission Product Development Competition and Jamaica Cultural Development Commission Festival of the Performing Arts, for which the school had the highest medal haul in the parish’s history and went on to make its mark in the national finals as well as the St James Evening of Excellence, the National Awards of Excellence.
Musically, Herbert Morrison has assembled one of, if not the best school bands in the island and pianist Louis Li, and bass player Jevaughn Brown, both won gold medals from the JCDC.
In the St. James Municipal Corporation Disaster Awareness Quiz & Poster Competition, Tiasha Reid entered more than one piece and copped both 1st and 2nd prizes in her age group and as testimony to their technical skills, the Engineering Club installed a 3000 wart grid tie solar system on the Industrial Technology staffroom as its entry in the PCJ Science Competition.
Staff too have been making their mark with 29 teachers being selected as examiners or assistant examiners for CXC and 10 teachers as NCTVET Assessors.
IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCES
Impressed by the technical school’s record of achievement, guest speaker at this year’s graduation, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett lauded Mr. Adams for “taking on an institution that has only grown and has only blossomed into being today, in my mind, and I say it without equivocation and I’m sure without much contradiction, that Herbert Morrison Technical High is one of the finest schools anywhere in the Caribbean today.”
He went on to congratulate the graduates for their performances in the various areas of school work and sports, as well as civic and community activities.“That is the alexia in my mind, to create a new and solid generation a future that will make us feel comfortable that tomorrow will bring a better day,” said Mr. Bartlett.
He had the graduates join him in quoting Nelson Mandela who declared that “Education is the most powerful weapon on earth.”
Noting that his greatest passion in public life was education, Mr. Bartlett said Herbert Morrison had the second largest number of students who benefit from his annual scholarship programme of the past 20 years.
He announced that four students, Asha Lee Kelly, Shantal Artwell, Chevelle Fullerton and Kerry-Ann James, who have an interest in tourism, would each receive a scholarship valued at $100,000 to commence tertiary training as of next October.
Additionally, Mr. Bartlett said he was so impressed with valedictorians Kadish Nelson and John Kerr-Bryan, they were being given special awards.
Cases of Acute Conjunctivitis, better known as ‘Pink Eye’, are on the rise in the parish of St. James. The Western Mirror has been receiving a number of reports of persons contracting the highly contagious infection in recent days.
Our newsroom contacted Dr. Marcia Johnson-Campbell, Medical Officer for Health, St. James, who confirmed that there has been an increase in the condition, which is quite common at this time of the year.
“We are having a significant increase in the number of cases of Acute Conjunctivitis in the parish of St. James,” informed Dr. Johnson Campbell.
Conjunctivitis is an infection to the eyes caused mainly by a virus which enters the eye by contaminated hands, wash rags, cosmetics, handkerchiefs and other personal items.
Signs and symptoms of conjunctivitis include:redness of the eyes, scratchy and or burning eyes, grainy feeling in the eyes, sensitivity to light and watery eyes.
TREATMENT AND CARE
Infected individuals are being advised to wash their hands each time they touch or scratch their eyes and each time they use tissue or cotton.
They are also being urged to pour boiled water that has been cooled onto a clean piece of tissue or cotton to wipe the eyes at least three times daily.
“These are also being recommended: Throw cotton or tissue in the garbage after each use. Avoid rubbing the eyes; change pillow cases every night,” Dr. Johnson Campbell advised.
Persons who have been infected with conjunctivitis are also being urged not to attend school, work or other crowded places until the infection clears up.
“Take infants with ‘pink eye’ to the doctor or nearest health centre as soon as possible,” she further advised.
PREVENTION
In the meantime, the public is being encouraged not to share makeup, eye drops, wash rags, towels or pillow cases. Avoid shaking the hands of persons who have ‘pink eye’ and to wash their hands often, especially after attending to infected persons.
In addition, Dr. Johnson-Campbell has warned of a message with counterfeit information about ‘pink eye’ making the rounds on social media.
“There is a WhatsApp message circulating about a different strain… but that is not true and there is no Dr. Sujay Gore on the Medical Council of Jamaica’s current list of registered doctors,” Dr. Johnson Campbell warned
