Students seated in photograph from left to right – Antonette Salmon, Shanisa Jones, Tanhoi Guthrie, Shanisa Hutchinson, Mircado McLean, Damanike Smith, Nickayla Stephens, and Sanya Boyd (GSAT 2013)
Seated in the ambience of Georgian architecture, a masterpiece and work of art, one of three buildings built by the Wealthy Leyden Brothers from England in the 1700’s, Waterloo Guest House and Restaurant was transformed into a gorgeous mosaic by past students of Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) – now students attending Saint Elizabeth Technical High School (STETHS) and Hampton School – adorned in multi-coloured pastel dresses, whom Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) feted at the Annual BOSA Back To School Dinner on Sunday, August 11, 2013.
BOSA members seated from left to right are: Vincent Samuels, Secretary/Tressurer, Victor Smith, Vice President, Vinnette Cain, Gwendolyn Comrie-Smith, and Viola Cain-Hall, Registered Professional Nurse (RN)
Unanimous reaction from the students who dined on tables covered with multi-coloured tablecloth that complemented their dresses is that the occasion was just AWESOME!!
After dinner was over, Nickayla Stephens, grade 9 student, got the surprise of her life when unknown to her, Tashagaye the Waitress, brought a multi-coloured cake in which stood 14 multi-coloured candles that enabled Nickayla to celebrate her 14th birthday with her school mates and friends. Standing around Nickayla in a semi-circle as she blew out her candles, everyone sang the Birthday Song after which she cut her cake and shared it with her fellow students and adult BOSA members who attended the dinner, ensuring that a piece of the cake was put aside for ‘Mass Ran” her grandfather who nurtured her but he was unable to attend the dinner.
Another surprise at the dinner, was the presentation of a Digicel ALCATEL 296 state of the art cellular/mobile phone to Shanisa Jones, grade 10 student at STETHS, courtesy of The Parish Manager and the Senior Customer Service Representative at Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (Black River Branch) and Intown Supersave and Wholesale, Black River in recognition for coming first in her class of 36 students.
At the end of the presentations, BOSA acceded to the student’s request that they be taken on a tour of the historic town of Black River, the first town in Jamaica that got electricity in 1893 and a motor car in 1903. Facing the Black River Harbor that is landlocked by Parottee Point to the east and Long Acre or Luana Point to the west – the only landlocked harbor in Jamaica – with the cooling effect of winds blowing over the azure waters of the Caribbean sea, the students listened with rapt attention – their bodies leaning against white coloured sea wall columns – as the BOSA Spokesman and Tour Guide explained to them the importance of the Black River Harbour in the export of sugar in bye gone years.
Stopping at Farquharson’s Wharf – now Hendrick’s Wharf – outnumbered by large numbers of Fishing boats that are docked in the Black River Harbor, BOSA Tour Guide explained to the students, the importance of a red brick building in which sugar was stored before it was loaded on to huge wooden row boats that sailed from the sugar house situated at the mouth of the Black River to the massive ship that was anchored in the Black River Harbour.
The next stop was Black River Bridge that was adorned in the national colours of black, green, and gold for Jamaica’s Anniversary Celebration. Unwilling to take their eyes off the boats used by Safari Tours, the students were taken to the Black River Slave Market Site where a monument was erected in memory of 133 slaves from West Africa who perished when they became ill and the Captain and Crew of the slave ship Zong threw their bodies of the sick slaves overboard into the shark infested waters of Black River Harbour in 1731.
Against the backdrop of the golden sun in the western sky who bade the students farewell, with memories of the Annual BOSA Back To School Dinner 2013 indelibly etched in their subliminal consciousness, they boarded vehicles that would transport them to the hilly terrain of Flint Valley where they reside.
What a fine group of young people from the hills of Flint Valley. Congratulations to all the students for your hard work and academic excellence. Is not where you are from that makes you a person, but what is on the inside and no one can take that from you. Be the best student that you can be, you are all teachers, nurses, doctors of the future, Education is the KEY. AIM HIGH! You are Blessed.
I want to also congratulate the one Young Man in the group. So often our young boys are not making the grade, but I want to encourage Mircardo to work hard and make your parents proud, be an example to those around you that with hard work and determination you can make it out of poverty. Don’t just settle for second best, but aim for the top of the class. (bosa alumni)