Firstly, huge congratulations have to be offered to Jessie Stephans MBE. It was both an honour and a pleasure to be invited to celebrate the auspicious occasion of her birthday.
LEEE JOHN of IMAGINATION hosted an extremely hospitable extravaganza at the ornate and historical St Lucian High Commission, to celebrate his mother’s 98th birthday.
I must say, i am a tad envious of anyone who still has their mother at any age, but especially those who are climbing up in those grand age numbers. It is Right to celebrate and revere them, as it is said, “You only get one”.
Her energy levels are immense, as previously she and her family had been invited to attend the palace, yes, that’s right THEEEEEEEE palace, Buckingham Palace to be precise, to view her portrait which has been permanently installed there.
Like many others, this lady arrived from the Caribbean in the 50s, but one difference with her is, as she continued her journey in the UK, she came to the realisation that she had to bite the bullet, and rather than complain about conditions and situations, she had to do something consequential in order to make significantly positive change for the black community.
As expected of the times, she received much resistance, racism and disrespect for her role as a police liason officer, the middleman between the constabulary and the accused. However, that did not deter her, and she continued her role, as it became blatantly apparent, that the accused, often becoming victims, needed her, much more than she needed rest, or to repair her bruised ego by the insults and resistance she would constantly received.
Now i say rest, because this role was voluntary, and carried out in addition to her full time job, and being a mother and a wife. As if that were not enough she headed up the St Lucia association, which is still going today, not only bringing people together, which always offers strength and support, but also doling out valuable advice like Werters Originals, or for the older generation, Murray Mints. She touched many nationalities from across the Caribbean, the diaspora, not only St Lucians. There were Antiguans, Barbadians, Trinidadians, Grenadians, Guyanese, there to celebrate her, and speak loudly and proudly of her positive influence, and contribution to their lives.
There were also many stalwarts there to celebrate her, foundation stones of the community like Rudolph Walker CBE, and journalist God Alex Pascal to name but a few. When you stand amongst these greats, whose shoulders we stand on, enabling us to do what we do today, you realise that there is one common thread that runs through them all. Their quest was never about celebrity, being famous or being a star. It was always about serving their community, honourably, with integrity, dignity and grace, honing their professionalism, going down in history as the best of the best in their field, being trailblazers and bar raisers, whom you can really look up to and aspire to being.
Long may their reign and guidance continue, and I hope e are learning the lessons from then, so that we can confidently pick up the mantle in their absence. It was not just a birthday celebration, it was a celebration of community and it’s importance
