DRAFT 4: In Jamaica, Striving to Make 'One Love' True - for All

— New York, N.Y .  I was discussing homophobia in Jamaica with one of our Foundation‘s Global Advisers recently over tea at The Yale Club. The Hon. Geneive Brown Metzger, LLD is a former diplomat from that Caribbean nation, with years of experience in public relations. She told me if I wanted to know about how a University in Jamaica has addressed that topic that I needed to speak with her friend, Prof. Rosalea Hamilton.

Prof. Rosalea Hamilton.

Photo: University of Technology.

Prof. Rosalea Hamilton serves as both Vice President for Community Service and Development and Scotiabank Chair in Entrepreneurship & Development at the University of Technology , Jamaica.  The history of this institution, a major national institution with a student population of about 12,000, is intimately connected with community service and social and economic development of Jamaica.

Prof. Hamilton and her two colleagues Dean Rohan Lewis and Dean Ellen Grizzle were at the heart of the “UTech Cares” project, which I discovered was a major effort within Jamaican society to make ‘One Love’ true – for all, including but not solely the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

I reached Rosalea high in the mountains above Montego Bay during one of her entrepreneurial training in the rural community of Flagstaff. The connection was perfect and we chatted for an hour. It seems her life’s passion to help others was sparked in November 2012 — three years ago — when a student at the university was beaten by security guards for allegedly being gay.

Caption. Credit.

Sadly, this was not an isolated incident. Recent reports from Amnesty International cite many challenges to justice in Jamaica, including “unlawful use of force and extrajudicial killings by security forces, continued high rates of sexual violence against women and girls, as well as an increase in harassment of and attacks and threats against members of the LGBT community.”

Further, the U.S. State Department states that the Jamaican government, despite is best efforts, “does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.”

Tourism is at the heart of the Caribbean economy. If Jamaica is to benefit from the economic development potential of its staggering beauty and world renown pop culture, it must create a more humane, democratic, progressive and inclusive society that focuses on the rights of all its citizens based on the principle of ‘no one left out.’

UTech1The University of Technology in Jamaica is a major national institution

with a student population of about 12,000, intimately connected community

outreach and with the social and economic development of Jamaica.

Photo: University of Technology.

That is why Prof. Hamilton’s efforts are so vital. Her current work focuses not only the LGBT community, but also women, girls, and disabled persons who may be abused at home; women and girls who are susceptible to being trafficked; and homeless people, including youth.

“Basically,” the professor told me, “we focus on the most vulnerable and socially excluded groups who are not adequately protected by social safety nets and unable to cope in Jamaica's struggling economy. This is especially important now in the context of a difficult adjustment to austerity measures associated with our IMF agreement.”

During the 2008-9 global crisis, Jamaica turned to the IMF for assistance and received a loan in 2010 and again in 2013. Today, the country is running the most austere budget in the world, with a primary surplus of 7.5 percent, more than double the primary surplus required by Greece. With nearly 50 per cent of the Budget going towards debt servicing, the diversion of capital away from critical capital investments has created some major challenges for the Jamaican people.

The impetus for starting the UTech Cares Project was the gay-bashing on her own campus three years ago – by its own security. Simply terrible. The quick response on behalf of her university, I have learned, was truly impressive.

PHOTO

Caption. Credit.

Immediately afterwards the attack, the administration began to deal with the issue. Within days, began internal discussions on how to prevent such a senseless and illegal tragedy in the future. Within weeks, this discussion was expanded to the greater community.

Within the month, a proposal had been submitted to the Delegation of the European Union in Jamaica to support a project entitled ‘Expand the Limits of Tolerance and Respect at UTech.’ About a year later, USAID provided support with an even larger grant, enabling project continuity. The UTech Cares project rolled out three major components in its second year: Improving attitudes, Integrating core values, and Building awareness.

I asked Rosalea about the impact this project has had over the last three years on individuals. What had been the shift in attitude?

PHOTO

Caption. Credit.

As an academic, Rosalea has fact, figures, and reports at her fingertips. She emailed me many of them within the hour. Several quotes form students, faculty and staff at the university jumped out at me. They had been asked in a survey how they felt about the “UTech Cares” project, and the overwhelming majority (about 80%) responded positively:

It opened my mind to interacting in positive way with others or to think of the impact or influence of my actions when dealing with others.

Through UTech Cares my level of awareness and tolerance of others has significantly increased.

It is a bold attempt to correct poor attitude and behaviour towards each other. This cultural shift is difficult and takes time. Already, positive signs are evident and this is very encouraging, presenting a ray of hope!

UTech Cares

“Significantly,” Rosalea told me, “our project has deepened our understanding of what it takes to build a sustainable culture of respect for and tolerance of diversity. Of course, much more such initiatives are required to build such a solid culture at UTech and across Jamaica and this is only possible with financial support and the collaboration of a dedicated and committed team.”

Historically, as my mentor Peter Yarrow frequently reminds me, music has been used to united people – as it still is.  UTech music tutor Coswell Duncan, musician Grub Cooper, and producer Mickey Bennett created the unifying anthem, a song on Respect & Tolerance entitled “Seven Letters” (R.E.S.P.E.C.T.).

Awardees and organizers at the 2014 Ubuntu Awards Ceremony

at the University of Technology Jamaica. Credit: UTech Cares.

By the end of 2013 UTech Cares had launched a competition via SMS, Facebook, and YouTube, produced a public service (PSA) video for Human Rights Day, and designed the logo above. CD’s of the song went on sale – as well as UTech Cares promotional items to make the cause trendy.

UTech Cares auditions followed for poetry, song and dance competitions emphasizing these same core values – and special —library materials were also acquired. Rosalea and her growing team were busy!

By the spring of 2014, thirty project-branded directional signs were placed on all UTech campuses and across the island, and  seminars on Stigma and Discrimination launched, and the signature, student-designed UTech Cares book-markers were introduced.

—Debates on Respect and Tolerance were then introduced into the public forum, as a total of eighteen student articles published, many of them to be re-published in our Foundation’s The Stewardship Report on Connecting Goodness.

Mural UTech Cares has engaged in many activities to promote diversity

over the last few years, including art contests. This winning mural depicts

a kaleidoscope of colors between black and white. Credit: UTech Cares.

Next followed the erection of a sculpture and mural, then The Ubuntu Award – The —Essence of Humanities Award. The Award honors Jamaicans that have had unique, transformative and enduring influence on the way that Jamaican society values the most vulnerable. According to Prof Hamilton, “the Awards reaffirms the importance of our interconnectedness as human beings and the need to love and care for each other as essential characteristics of our humanity.”

The UTech Cares Project was not done as Rosalea is such a tireless advocate for social justice. She and her colleagues made the case to USAID for more support in expanding the UTech Cares Project beyond their University to the wider Jamaican society. In May 2015, the Fi Wi Jamaica project was born.

Fi Wi Jamaica logo.

Credit: UTech Cares.

Street smart, Prof. Hamilton floats easily between the worlds of students, academics and business. Wearing her professor’s cap, she stated: “This Project focuses on empowering members of the targeted groups to contribute more meaningfully to society. It seeks to build psychological capital and heavily emphasizes human capacity development through social, cultural and economic interventions, as well as public stakeholder engagements that build public demand and advocacy for a Jamaica that respects the human rights of all.”

What remains to be done in the Fi Wi Jamaica project? “We need to better understand tolerance and homophobic perceptions/attitudes in Jamaica as well as to generate a social tolerance index,” Prof. Hamilton told me. “We must strengthen capacity for socially marginalized groups to access social services here. We want to establish a ‘masters-in-residence’ global competence training program linked to musical/cultural showcases promoting love and respect for all,” she continued.

“There is still so much to be done! We aspire to provide public awareness support to various groups — including the Jamaica Constabulary Force, civil society organizations, but also secondary schools and tertiary educational institutions — regarding domestic and intimate partner violence, and human trafficking. We must put an end to this scourge of Modern Day Slavery. Coming from a long, tragic history of transatlantic slavery, we cannot ignore this crime against humanity.” Moss does not grow under this woman’s feet.

One Love

The interview over and reviewing the materials emailed to me, I was struck by the depth of comments collected and realized I need to update my thinking on Jamaica. Any program that elicits student, faculty and staff responses such as these can only be described as a glowing success:

Irrespective of our individual differences, we operate in a global environment and need to be treated with love and respect. Our worth and value to society should not be based on our differences but rather on our contribution.

I appreciate how UTech Cares seeks to embrace not only our university community but also persons outside the university, promoting love, respect, and caring for each other – simply understanding each person’s differences.

Jamaicans on a whole need to understand each other better, and realize that no man is an island; humans are social creatures, no matter what. One love.

I have two things to look forward to in the near future: first, welcoming Prof. Rosalea Hamilton here in New York as she visits in December. Then, visiting the University of Technology, Jamaica – and not having to worry about my safety. Because of the efforts of individuals of good will, such as Prof. Hamilton and her colleagues, there is a place for me in Jamaica. One day even small towns and villages in Jamaica will champion the true meaning of “One Love” and, in so doing, will complete Jamaica’s beautiful national motto: “Out of Many, One People.”

University of   Technology , Jamaica

Magna per atem gesta | Excellence Through Knowledge

876-927-1680 | 237 Old Hope Road, Kingston, Jamaica

Tweet