Raise our hands, roll up our sleeves and collaborate; The Hummingbird Gala 2019

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

“Change does not happen in silos – it requires all of us to raise our hands, roll up our sleeves and find meaningful collaboration to help those in need.” ~ (Caron S. Chung, AFJ Executive Director)

Caron S.Chung hit the nail on the head with this quote, and slowly but surely, the Caribbean diaspora has begun to invest in their countries of origin, and are beginning to play larger roles in the development of the Caribbean as a whole. These changes come with challenges, but organizations in the diaspora are finding ways to connect, give back, invest and empower; one such organization is The American Friends of Jamaica.

Established in 1982, The American Friends of Jamaica started with a handful of Jamaicans and Americans who love Jamaica, and were willing to work together in order to improve the lives of Jamaicans through systemic development in the areas of: education, healthcare, and economic development. They do so by recognizing and empowering organizations that do work with partners in Jamaica and other community groups including: NGO’s, hospitals, schools, and the University of the West Indies. What the AFJ has recognized is the existence of a large amount of untapped potential in the diaspora, especially in regards to its economic development; it is as if the original members foresaw a future where members of the diaspora could give back to the Caribbean in many different ways.

The AFJ provides an opportunity each year for the diaspora community, supporters and friends in New York to give back to Jamaicans by hosting the Hummingbird Gala. Each year, the community puts on their finest for a night of entertainment, speeches, and awards that highlight extraordinary individuals, and their significant contributions to the economic development of Jamaica.

 “When I was younger, I always wanted to impress, to be good for my country, to make them feel good, and sometimes that meant I didn’t focus on myself enough. I learned I had to put myself first. And it’s fine because I want for me the same thing that they want for me, which is to win.”  ~ Usain Bolt

 He is arguably one of the most gifted athletes of our time, and has created history by breaking record after record, but at the Hummingbird Gala, Bolt was being awarded for something quite different. In 2011, Usain Bolt founded The Usain Bolt Foundation; the main goal is to empower children through education and cultural development. They have done so by supporting: the Jamaica Special Olympics, and The Walkers Place of Safety. Most recently Bolt has discussed his need to focus on bringing computers to children in rural Jamaica, and his latest humanitarian effort was helping to build a home for somebody who lost theirs in a fire. On Saturday, October 26^th, 2019, Bolt was presented with the International Humanitarian Award at the Hummingbird Gala, alongside another noteworthy man, Glen Christian.

Glen Christian is most definitely a force to be reckoned with; he is the founder and chairman of Cari-Med Limited, Kirk Distributors Limited and Federated Pharmaceutical (FP 2014) Limited. With only three employees, Glen Christian founded Cari-Med Limited, and has brought it to the point where it is recognized as the leading distributor of pharmaceuticals, medical supplies and consumer goods in Jamaica. He followed this up by opening Kirk Distributions Limited in October 2005, and since then has acquired the assets of Colgate Palmolive (Ja.) Ltd. KDL is now the major player when it comes to oral care and household and skin care. As if he couldn’t do anymore, Mr. Christian then opened Federated Pharmaceutical (FP 2014) Limited, a company that manufactures a wide range of products found in many Jamaican households. Over the counter and prescriptions products include: analgesics and antipyretics, antacids, antibiotics, antihistamines, and cough and cold preparations.

The humanitarian award was presented to Mr. Christian for his work with the Cari-Med Foundation. The foundation has supported several initiatives at hospitals around Jamaica. They have: refurbished an entire wing of a hospital, constructed a treatment room and pharmacy at the Hope Institute, an institution that offers palliative and curative care for cancer patients, and one of the foundation’s major projects was the donation of a fully equipped neonatal unit to the Black River Hospital.

It is admirable to see that the Diaspora has found a way to honour these two great men who represent the island of Jamaica so well. The AFJ continues to grow and my hope is that next year, I can make it to New York to be a part of the Hummingbird Gala in person. You can learn more about The AFJ by visiting them at https://theafj.org/