More harmony in Gordon House, less smoking on children’s Christmas list… Children star on Prime Minister’s radio programme

Prime Minister Bruce Golding and his wife, Lorna Golding were enchanted by children who participated in his live radio call-in programme on December 22 at Jamaica House. The programme ‘Jamaica house live’ was dedicated exclusively to children between the ages of 10-16 years.
On the wish list of the children were that Jamaicans smoked less cigarettes, used the roads so that there were less vehicle fatalities, provided more places of safety for children and that there would be more harmony in Gordon House.

Fifth form student of the Immaculate Conception High, Krystal Reynolds shares her dreams, aspirations and accomplishments with Prime Minister Bruce Golding and the listeners of Jamaica House Live on Wednesday (Dec 22). Several children were invited to be guests on the Christmas edition of the programme which was dedicated to them. Wife of the Prime Minister, Lorna Golding (center) shared her views on the programme about the importance of early childhood education.

The Prime Minister juggled the musical selections, which included his favourite Christmas album from the New London Chorale, Nat King Cole and modern Jamaican yuletide songs. A children’s singing group, The New Beginning Singers, directed by Devon Sparks, performed in studio.
Prime Minister Bruce Golding was particularly mesmerised by the boys in the audience. Terrence Phang of Trench Town High School is a rare boy who seeks a lifelong career as a writer and he already maintains journal of his life and times. Mr. Golding noted that he could be an even more avid reader if he had access to a computer, and suggested that something should be done soon about this.
The children gave their views on Christmas. Vanessa Cousins who currently attends Glenhope School says of Christmas that “Most importantly you need to think about God because it is his birthday and you have to worship him and praise his name.”
Krystal Reynolds from the Immaculate Conception High School has been touched by an experience of participating in a feeding programme for destitute persons living in downtown Kingston. Her hope for the New Year is that more can be done to build shelters to keep children protected. Aspiring lawyer and statesman, Kingston College student Jamar Gordon called for ” better cooperation between the Opposition and the Government” to be the main focus for 2011. Tevin Davis of Jamaica College, where Mr. Golding once served as Head Boy, dreams of less death as a result of crime, motor vehicle crashes and smoking.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding gives good advice to Vanessa Cousins of the Glenhope Girls home to study hard in school and achieve her dream of becoming a teacher. The children were the Prime Minister’s special guests on Jamaica House Live on Wednesday (Dec 22) where they shared their hopes, aspirations and accomplishments with Jamaica. Wife of the Prime Minister, Lorna Golding shared the programme with the PM and discussed her ideas of good parenting.

The students also spoke of their lifelong ambitions. Zachary Smith of Jamaica College is considering aviation while his schoolmate Tevin Davis is considering criminal law to defend people who have been accused of crimes. Shikira Gray of Excelsior High School as well as Tanesa Osbourne and Deandra Williams of Mico Practicing are persuaded to pursue medicine to help people and children in particular. Their comments, among others, prompted the Children’s Advocate, Mary Clarke, to be hopeful in her outlook.
“I felt so much hope and promise as I listened to these children express themselves and express what they want to become in life. I saw, in them, love and empathy for other children; not wanting to see children suffer. We can learn from these children,” Mrs. Clarke said. Other children participating on air were Kwame Cornelius of Kingsgate Preparatory; Kagale Stewart of SOS Herman Gmeiner Preparatory; Mico Practicing and Najae Martin of St Mary High School.
The programme callers were not to be left out. The conversation took a diversion from the usual public services requests to voice support for better parenting in every area of a child’s life. The parents in the studio audience called for legislation to make parents more accountable; more male teachers; more reading programmes in deep urban areas and more public/private partnerships to help children in need. A parent in studio recalled GraceKennedy’s Grace and Staff Foundation where employees give time to tutor at their organisation’s homework centre in Central Kingston.

These children are all smiles as they greet Prime Minister Bruce Golding. They were special guests on the children’s edition of Jamaica House Live on December 22. The children were invited to share with Jamaica their hopes and aspirations, accomplishments and the meaning of Christmas to them. They were drawn from a wide cross section of schools including: Mico Practicing Primary and Junior High, St. Mary High, Glenhope Girls Home, SOS Herman Gmeiner, Trench Town High, Jamaica College, Kingston College, Immaculate Conception High, and Excelsior High.

Founder of the Jamaica Early Childhood Development Foundation, Mrs. Lorna Golding, said that the Mico University, where she is currently enrolled as a student of early childhood education, has taught her that adults have a responsibility to assist young people, many of whom have daunting challenges.
“I have learned that the young people today are talking about their ambitions. I believe that it is our responsibility to sit in with them, and as I am learning at Mico, we have a great responsibility to take them down this road that they want to travel,” Mrs. Golding said.
At the close of the programme, the children were presented with gifts of books of Jamaican short stories by author, Veronica Carnegie and also books from Kingston Bookshop and cellular phones and other gifts from Digicel.