Jamaica’s First Lady On A Mission For Children

By Walter Greene

Jamaica’s First Lady, Mrs. Lorna Golding wife of the Prime Minister Bruce Golding, in New York for a special worship service in honor of the celebration of Jamaica’s Independence paid a visit to Carib News for an exclusive interview. The elegantly attired and totally charming Prime Minister’s wife was gracious to grant us this time despite her busy schedule. She was focused on her Jamaica Early Children Development Foundation which benefits the children of Jamaica and chatted about several other topics like the recently concluded Emancipendence celebrations held in Jamaica.

A mother herself of three children, two girls and one boy who all attended college in the U.S. and London said that the new leadership comes from the deep within the culture of Jamaica. "It comes from their soul, their minds," said the First Lady. "Since I became the Prime Minister’s wife, and I’ve been a wife for 35 years. I thought of what exactly I could do to help the children of Jamaica. I’ve already helped with my children, and they’ve had very good schooling. I’ve heard the cry of different stakeholders about early childhood education in Jamaica. Sometimes they felt that the children were a little bit more culturally oriented, if their studies will be a little easier on them."

The First Lady emphasized that the way we socialize our children and the way they have started their studies need to be transformed. "We need to promote the growth of our children, we want to transform the schools to more prototype schools. I’m helping to re-organize the schools and pay a little more attention to things like their nutrition and safety around the schools." Mrs. Golden continued;

"The Jamaica Early Children Development Foundation is the brainchild of my colleagues, Minister’s wives. Of course, I alone couldn’t do it. We feel if we get to the heads of our husbands, it would make their lives a little easier. So I’ve made myself available to promote the growth of our children. We are targeting them from birth and you know Government money is very short, so I‘d talk to the Prime Minister and the Minister of Education.

"We are taking an integrated approach, we feel that the doctors, stakeholders, early childhood practitioners, all have come to the conclusion that we must take an integrated approach both health and education to see if we can transform the growth and development of the children of Jamaica." Enquiring about the involvement of the parents in this venture, Mrs. Golden stated; "Well, there are parent-teachers associations, but there is a relatively new institution; The Roving Care Givers Program, which was started right here in Jamaica and the President of the United States daughter came to Jamaica and understudied our program, came back to the U.S., implemented it and included it in the President’s `Head start’ program. She even got a medal for it. So it’s simply taking an integral approach to the community."We cannot access all the children’s mothers especially the single mothers in terms of going into the health centers or to wait for the child to become three years-old, or get them at school. We want to get them early and sing to them, clap to them and guide them, it’s all in the development, by going into the country, we want to show how to stimulate them. I want to start with Jamaica House Basic School which was initiated by Beverly Manley. She’s taken it to a certain level, it’s sitting there at the feet of the Prime Minister and I’m going to see if I can do some thinking out the box and take on any levels to be raised. Because the Prime Minister and Minister of Education and their Government’s policy is an early childhood development, and I will raise the bar."

Mrs. Golding revealed that the Foundation hosted their first fund raiser in May and it was a great success. She said that the event featured chamber music artists from the prestigious Juillard School and the event was a resounding sold out - standing room only affair.

Speaking of the recently concluded Emancipendence celebrations in Jamaica, Mrs. Golden felt that the complete program of festivities were re-assuring. "I’m sure the Minister involved, Babsy Grange must be very proud.. I know she worked very close with the Prime Minister. It’s 20 years we haven’t had this, you can see the old artistic culture come out of everyone. The showcase was brilliant, it was thrown out to the wider society. You saw the 30,000 people at the Grand Gala in the stadium and lots more who couldn’t get in." She said that was why she launched her Foundation to develop the culture and their spirit as she said "to develop the cognizant section of their brain...and I am very proud of it."

The First Lady also commented on a special television documentary that was filmed in Jamaica and due for an up-coming release that showcases the island in all it’s splendor. Hosted by American television personality Deborah Roberts, the show takes viewers around the island to showcase Jamaica in all it’s splendor. Some of the hot spots included a trip to the birthplace of the First Lady in St. Anne, a lavish lunch in the waters of an elegant up-scale resort and a trek with Chukka Cove adventures through the lush forest that included zip-lining and horseback riding. "It was a learning experience for me and for Deborah as well," revealed Mrs. Golding. A front row view at the popular Caribbean Fashionweek where Mrs. Golden and Mrs Roberts viewed the latest creations from local, regional and international fashion designers was also included in the documentary.

*Listen to the complete interview with Jamaica’s First Lady, Mrs. Lorna Golding - CLICK HERE

 

 

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