Desmond Henry
TREASURE BEACH:
MANY GOVERNMENTS like to think of themselves as facilitators that is, like a big brother who helps to make things happen. In most instances, however, a great many of the processes do not work, mainly because of confusion between the personal and political agendas. When that happens, facilitation becomes a sham and nothing works.
Not so the present participating relationships between the government and the St. Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation.
Seven years ago when parish leaders floated the idea of a Foundation dedicated to spearheading the forward thrust of St. Elizabeth in a way befitting its calibre, the main concern was to find an operating centre that could make it work.
Without a ready source of capital, it became vital to find a person and a benefactor who could take the ideas through their initial stages and, in the process, put in place an operating centre (a secretariat) to make the rest happen. The Foundation members looked around for a formula, and gazed at the man who floated the idea in the first place, George Watson.
George had become a confirmed, progressive government officer with the National Heritage Trust, where he was director of public education and communication. I remember offering him his first job in government in 1968 when as Festival Director, I took him on to work in some of the parish programmes of Festival. He progressed and developed in the civil service to his present position of leadership in helping to preserve our national heritages.
Having decided on George, the main challenges to the Homecoming group was how to get his service without having to pay him directly. We had no money. The approach was simple. Ask the government to keep him on its payroll while making him available to carry out and spearhead the work of the Foundation. After all the Foundation would be engaged in programmes of community building, which would normally have to be carried out by the government itself.
A team headed by Foundation chairman Oliver Jones, approached the government on the basis of the merits of what the Foundation had in mind, and asked them to assign George indefinitely to head the secretariat, while keeping him on their payroll. Deep negotiations took place, mainly around the veracity and good intentions of the Foundation. They examined our plans, our thought processes and the levels of our determination to make them work. Having been convinced, George Watson, a determined son of the parish, was released from his substantive duties at Heritage and assigned to the Foundation as its chief executive officer. A profound process of facilitation between the government and a responsible enlightened public body was about to take place. The rest is history in progress.
Today the St. Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation is a model in the process of rural self-development. In seven short years, it has raised the emotions of pride and hope within the parish to unbelievable levels. The Foundation has become the envy, and model, by which other parishes and communities measure themselves in Jamaica. Already St. Thomas, Trelawny and St. Ann have announced similar programmes.
Brain powers
Its board of directors has defined a path for parish advancement in human, social and economic terms, and has been leading the way in new relationships between central and local power; urban and rural priorities. Its main sources are the drawdown on the technical and brain powers of its citizens, and the responsible recognition of those who have already contributed, and continue to do so. The Foundation believes that over time every son, daughter and institution in St. Elizabeth will be publicly recognised and honoured for their contribution to past, present and future development. And as the process deepens, there is a growing belief that new structures of rural management will become inevitable.
Among the Foundation's early works are three long-term (seven years) development plans in education, business and tourism. Its education focus now offers a number of scholarships to local high schools, and a degree-completing programme to teachers at the tertiary level. In business, the parish is experiencing substantial expansion in bauxite and cement, and a number of medium and small business commencements. In tourism the foundation awaits the final action plan arising from the south coast study, while the parish and its surrounding neighbours enjoy pride of place as national leaders in community and eco-tourism. The St. Elizabeth 'Best of the Bess' theme and slogan has reverberated with pride in the hearts and veins of every parishioner for the past seven years. What of the future?
With the enthusiastic support of its four Members of Parliament and all its citizens groups, the Foundation feels that the best is yet to come. Plans have been drawn up to tap into the wealth of support from its parishioners abroad, and to spearhead a series of promotional, marketing and merchandising opportunities at home and overseas. Once the South Coast study becomes a working document, there is a gut feeling that the sky is the limit. The Foundation's directorship was recently strengthened with the addition of Dr. Raymond Wright of the PCJ Group, Robert Bryan of the SDC, and Hilda James of Golfview Hotel.
From a working standpoint, as long as this new spirit of facilitation between central government and responsible rural partnerships continue, there is a feeling that every other parish could be a potential model. And that would be so good for all concerned.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
If second thoughts came before first thoughts, can you imagine how much wiser we would be.
Desmond Henry is a marketing strategist based in Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth.
Eddie Burke
In over five years as a columnist for this newspaper, I have never had the level of readership response to a column like I had to the one on Eddie Burke. One of the best calls was from Easton Lee who confirmed that he had all the 'Newsy Waps' originals in his keeping. He and I will get together shortly on them.
