James “Dick” Richards
In contrast to “cas cas”, “verandah/shop talk”, and several misconceptions held by “village lawyers” and other unscrupulous persons whose agenda is to propagate mischief, perusal of instructions left by James “Dick” Richards (1872-1965) with respect to funds that are to be disbursed from his estate, clearly stipulate that money that was to be placed in a Trust Fund for Beersheba Primary School was to provide scholarship for two of the best academic performing students.
The expressed written intention of James “Dick’ Richards that was carried out throughout the years after his death in 1965 by Bermuda Trust Company Limited – a subsidiary of HSBC Bank that bought the assets of Bermuda National Bank in which Mr. Richards was a Principal Shareholder – must also be carried out by the Administration at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) to whom the remaining balance in the Trust Fund has been transferred by a Deed Of Appointment and Termination.
Although James “Dick” Richards is fondly remembered and revered for his philanthropy as “Bermuda King” by people in his native Carr District and other adjoining districts in the impoverished poverty stricken peasant farming community in New Market, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica West Indies, Mr. Richards’ instruction with respect to disbursements that are to be made from his Trust Fund, is quite specific and no attempt must ever be made by the Administration at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) – present Trustee of James Richards Educational Trust Fund – to make disbursements from the Trust Fund for purposes that are inconsistent with Mr. Richards’ intention.
As a vigilant and vibrant Community Based Organization (CBO) and Stakeholder at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) with interest in the subject matter mentioned herein, Beersheba Old Students Association (BOSA) will along with monitoring promised by the Regional Director, Region 5, Ministry of Education and involvement of National Education Inspectorate, continue to insist that there must always be probity, transparency, and accountability in managing and disbursing funds from James Richards Educational Trust Fund so that qualified beneficiaries such as Shanisa Jones and other Achievers and Trailblazers from Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) that will follow in her footsteps, are not victimized and discriminated against, but they are recognized as qualified beneficiaries and funds made available to them to continue their education in pursuit of academic excellence.
James Richards Educational Trust Fund is not a dole. Conversely, in keeping with Mr. Richards’ belief in academic excellence rather than mediocrity, the scenario whereby a parent who approaches the Trustees at Beersheba Primary School (Government Leased) to obtain assistance because his/her child is poor and needy, would be incongruous with Mr. Richards’ intention. Any attempt by the Trustees to bend the rules to assist this parent would expose themselves to be held culpable for misappropriating funds from the account for which penal sanction could be a remedy for this illicit action.
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