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Jamaica College Honours Two Old Boys

Two distinguished Jamaica College past students were recently given a special honour – the Carlton Alexander award for outstanding service.

The two, attorney-at-law Derek Jones and Ambassador Dr. Richard Bernal were honoured by the Jamaica College Old Boys Association (JCOBA) at its annual awards dinner at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel last month.

Two and half years ago, the school seemed to have been bordering on the brink of anarchy but has since been rescued, restored and revitalized. Thanks to the efforts of the Old Boys Association, parents, the school board and yes, the present crop of students themselves, Jamaica College has done an almost 360 degree turn around to once again become the pride of Old Hope Road.

Board Chairman the Hon R. Danny Williams in his remarks said that while much had been done to restore the prestige and honour of the school, the physical surroundings itself still needs a lot of work to the tune of over $100M and he urged the old boys present, including the Prime Minister, to dig deep into their pockets and give generously.

He noted that today Jamaica College is a ‘completely different’ school. It is not perfect but discipline has been restored because we have a zero tolerance approach so you can feel the change. “The truth is that where I was ashamed two and half years ago to take anyone to the school, now I am proud to do so. It didn’t happen overnight and it was largely due to people investing both time and money into the future of our boys.” Fifty percent of the buildings he stated have been refurbished including the guidance counselors’ room, tennis courts, labs, staff cottages and offices. Welfare and intervention programmes have been introduced to help students and staff improvement seminars are regularly conducted. During dinner, musician Seretse Small, another old boy, paid tribute to the ‘boys’ with a string of Jamaican favourites. Guest speaker Prime Minister The Hon Bruce Golding said that although he himself have not been a model old boy in contributing to the welfare of the school as he should, he intends to make amends as the future of our youth is too precious to be neglected. He also acknowledged the presence of his own guest 12 year old Tadje Dowdie, a determined youngster who though he needs dialysis three times a week and has missed out of some of his schooling because of frequent hospitalizations, was successful in the recent GSAT examinations and will be attending Jamaica College in September.

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