Trailblazer – Shanisa Jones, Grade 10 Student at Saint Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), #1 in her class of 36 students.
Me wise ole grannie Rosa weh raise me always tell me say “bwoy, wha a fe you cant be unfe you.” Weh me wise ole grannie Rosa tell me, has again been manifested in the life of Shanisa Jones, grade 10 student at Saint Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS), a native from the impoverished, poverty stricken, peasant farming district of Flint Valley, New Market, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies.
Notwithstanding the subtle victimization that Shanisa Jones has continued to receive from the unconscionable School Board at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) that has defied and scoffed at the directive from the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education that it must reimburse Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) and the writer of this news article, all expenditure incurred to defray the cost of Shanisa’s auxiliary school fees and inescapable and miscellaneous expenses as a qualified beneficiary of James Richards Educational Trust Fund, with BOSA still being the safety net for Shanisa, her 2012/2013 Report Card has disclosed that not only has she excelled in Mathematics with a 90 average and 88 in Information Technology (IT) – not to mention other subjects in which she has also excelled – she came first out of a class of 36 students.
At no expense to the unconscionable School Board at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) that continues to be characterized by a culture of silence, secrecy, non-response, and pussy-footing, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) has again done what it has been doing since September 2009, namely, provide Shanisa with three sets of school uniforms, school shoes, book bag, books, pencils, and pens that will enable her to begin the 2013/2014 School Year as a promising grade 11 student.
Go deh Shanisa!! Wha a fe u cant be unfe you! The action of the unconscionable School Board in withholding and denying you benefits for which you qualify, though painful and disconcerting to you is by no means an impediment to your academic excellence because Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) will continue to be not only your safety net but the wind beneath your wings.
BOSA is cognizant of how disconcerting it is for you on August 1, 2013 – Emancipation Day – as you try desperately to decode mixed messages that you have received from the unconscionable School Board at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) that has enslaved you economically and the Nation’s Leaders that make utterances about how they abhor and condemn slavery in all forms.
Nevertheless, Keep Hope Alive, Shanisa!! The spirit of James “Dick” Richards your ancestor who along with Dr. Edgar Fitzgerald Gordon, M.D., Surgeon, and Charles Vinton Monk, American-born Clergyman and Journalist who struggled as Freedom Fighters against economic slavery and oligarchy in Bermuda is with you in your struggle against hypocrisy and oligarchy of the unconscionable School Board at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased).
The money that James “Dick” Richards bequeathed from the wealth that he labored hard and long hours to achieve in Bermuda under adverse conditions was not intended by him to remain forever in a bank account in Black River, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies with one member of the unconscionable School Board oligarchy expressing concern that it is going to finish too fast if payments are made from it but the donors mindset and intention was to ensure that students whose academic excellence like you should get a good education. With this in mind, ultimately funds must be released to defray the cost of your school expenses as a qualified beneficiary of James Richards Educational Trust Fund for which Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) is now Trustee.
Shanisa, although you are bewildered, do not consider it strange regarding the victimization that you have been receiving from the hypocritical, unconscionable oligarchy School Board at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased). Consider this fact, while 1,200 male shackled slaves were crammed in the dungeon at Cape Coast Castle in Ghana, West Africa, waiting to be hustled through the door of no return to be loaded like cargo unto the merchant ship that was docked in the Atlantic Ocean, Missionaries and the elite oligarchy were upstairs singing and meditating with Bibles opened.
Finally, let me share with you Shanisa, something important that me wise ole grannie Rosa always tell me and this has equipped me to fight victimization in numerous struggles that I have encountered in my life time: “A rabbit neba weigh more dan im four quarters.” Based on what me wise ole grannie Rosa say, be assured that the treatment that you have been experiencing from the hypocritical unconscionable School Board oligarchy at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased), THIS TOO WILL PASS!!
Congratulations Shanisa! Way to go Girl, keep up the good work! Although some are working against you, be encouraged you are not alone, BOSA Alumus have your back.