Students Urged to Learn from Achievements of Outstanding Jamaicans

Media Consultant and Lecturer at the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC), Fae Ellington, is encouraging the country’s youth to know their history and be inspired by the accomplishments of outstanding Jamaicans.

She was delivering the main address on Monday, October 14, at the launch of the Meadowbrook High School Heritage Week activities at the institution in St. Andrew.

Miss Ellington cited the achievements of pioneering scientists such as Dr. T.P. Lecky, who revolutionized agriculture in Jamaica. Dr. Lecky created a new dairy breed, the Jamaica Hope, and was also pivotal in establishing three Jamaican meat breeds – the Jamaica Brahman, the Jamaica Red, and the Jamaica Black.

The establishment of these Jamaican breeds vastly improved the productivity and economic situation of the small farmer in Jamaica, and Dr. Lecky’s work has become a standard for breeders in tropical countries.

Miss Ellington also informed that the country’s first traffic lights were built by Jamaican inventor, Hedly Jones, who was known for his music.

“Mr. Jones, along with his cousin, built and demonstrated Jamaica’s first traffic lights in 1952; a Jamaican, it wasn’t imported into Jamaica.  The prototype of these traffic lights was installed on the corner of King and North Streets and at Geffrard Place and Orange Street is where his demonstration of the first traffic lights could be seen. That is our history, which is our strength,” Miss Ellington said.

Citing the excellence of the nation’s renowned folklorist Olive Lewin, she told the students that Ms. Lewin was inspired by the quote: ‘you don’t practise until you get it right; you practise until you can’t get it wrong’.

She said that the quote speaks to a determination to succeed. “That is a powerful statement, and if you understand that and apply it to every aspect of your life, you are going to be in for good things,” she stated.

Principal of the school, Michael Peart, in his remarks, encouraged the students to stay away from negative influences, which can affect their advancement.

“Let your light so shine that all can see and say that in you, the struggles of our National Heroes were not wasted, it was worth the pain, because it has made a difference,” the Principal said.

For her part, Miss Kingston and St. Andrew Festival Queen, Jody-Kay James, said that as the country celebrates Heritage Week, Jamaicans have a lot for which they can be proud.

“There is a lot to learn, there is a lot to be proud of, there is a lot for us to celebrate. When we have Heritage Week, it is a good thing, we should be happy and excited to talk about the Heroes and persons that were before us,” she stated.