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The judges of the 2023 Jamaica Customer Service Poetry Competition, organized by the Jamaica Cultural and Development Commission, were impressed by 11-year-old Ngozi Wright’s entry “We Deserve It”. Wright, one of the younger entrants, was able to fully capture the essence of customer service experience in Jamaica, or the lack thereof.

Ngozi Echoing a Nationwide Concern

11-year-old Ngozi Wright’s words brings to focus the need for change and the unspoken concern of many Jamaicans. While some Jamaicans express their displeasures on social media, the complexity of this situation is that a significant number of Jamaicans are customer service representatives for foreign companies, where they are expected to deliver an excellent service to customers living overseas. However, this quality of service is typically not reciprocated to their fellow countrymen. In her poem, Ngozi sends a powerful message about the state of customer service in Jamaica. She reminds Jamaicans that the customer deserve respect and kindness, regardless of the challenges service providers may face. Wright emphasizes the importance of excellent service, service with a purpose, and professionalism from service providers.

A Voice of Change

Wright, who made history in 2019 by addressing the Jamaican Parliament at the age of seven, and was highlighted as the youngest dub poet in 2021 has once again shown her talent and passion for raising her voice.

A Message of Change

The Jamaica Customer Service Poetry Competition, jointly organized by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) and the Jamaica Customer Service Association (JaCSA), provided the platform for Ngozi to share her message. The competition this year aimed to promote the importance of service excellence under the theme “The Power of Service Excellence in Building Trust in a Digital World.” Ngozi’s triumph in the primary category of the competition, along with Rajae Smith and Jevaughn Barnaby in the secondary and tertiary categories, signals a hopeful change in the way customer service is perceived and delivered in Jamaica.

Read Ngozi Wright’s Winning Entry “We Deserve It”

We deserve it  – Excellent Service
We deserve it  –  Service with a purpose
If we nuh get good service we nervous
You a run party shop or circus?

We deserve it  – Excellent Service
We deserve it  –  Serve us with a purpose
If we nuh get good service we nervous
Professionalism anytime yuh serve us

We know it’s very hard to serve,
Sometimes customer get pon yuh nerves,
But protocols have to observe,
Give customers what them deserve

Every man, woman and child,
Appreci-love service with a smile,
Patience when tempers boil,
Nuh act vile, serve with style

Style, dignity and class
Whether worker, manager or boss
Efficiency, we endorse,
Get through fast, no time lost.

We deserve it  – Excellent Service
We deserve it  –  Service with a purpose
If we nuh get good service we nervous
You a run party shop or circus?

We deserve it  – Excellent Service
We deserve it  –  Serve us with a purpose
If we nuh get good service we nervous
Professionalism anytime yuh serve us

Yuh see mi in the line, nuh act like yuh blind,
Watch clock a pass time, try and be kind
We will always remember your kindness,
When we are treated like “your highness”

We know yu want customers fi return,
So careful of the bridges you burn,
A caring smile can make one’s day,
Show compassion says JaCSA
Be the best you can be,
Spread cheers, says JCDC

Nuh look wid disgust, support is a must
Excellent service must build trust
That’s power in a digital world,
Respect every woman, man, boy and girl

We deserve it  – Excellent Service
We deserve it  –  Service with a purpose
If we nuh get good service we nervous
You a run party shop or circus?

We deserve it  – Excellent Service
We deserve it  –  Serve us with a purpose
If we nuh get good service we nervous
Professionalism anytime yuh serve us

Photo – JCDC

The post 11-Year-Old Poet Ngozi Wright’s Stern Warning About Customer Service in Jamaica Wins JCDC Poetry Competition appeared first on Jamaicans.com.

“Woman in the Wind is a collection of poems that celebrate and shine a spotlight on global women influencers, weaving tales of heroines from the vibrant activism of Greta Thunberg to the enduring legacy of Winnie Mandela and Louis Bennett Coverley. Covering a wide spectrum of women’s experiences – be it in politics, environmental justice, arts or community activism – the collection is a tapestry of stories of women who have marked the world in myriad ways” (foreward Woman in the Wind by Andrene Bonner)
Unlike the proverbial cry in the wilderness – the new collection from Andrene Bonner aptly named Woman in the Wind – Praise Poetry, shows its intent and purpose from the first line of the first stanza and it does not fall on deaf ears. In a modest and innovative move, the acclaimed published author of a diverse collection is not telling a fictitious tale or pointing the way to rearing strong, mindful girls and boys and effective and loving parents – instead, she turns her sharp eye and quicksilver pen to the praise of women of achievement.
Likening her subjects to the powerful Oya, an Orisha or African Goddess in African mythology, the book is a loving tribute to those who have gone on and those who still remain while recognizing and celebrating the unsung Wombman Kings among us.
The diversity of the choice of sheroes reflects the hues of a world often at odds with itself no two are exactly the same but all come together to make the whole a unique tribe with diverse gifts and talents. Yes Rihanna under the skillful interpretation of Bonner has a new life as an Oya, perfectly preceding the deeply personal tribute to fellow Jamaican thespian Leonie Forbes.
All of the women chosen to bring this book to life are special and so deserving of the honor; for they have and will inspire generations past and generations to come. For Andrene Bonner to use her gift of the griot to honor them in words that form like never before heard lyrics is her gift not just to the reader – but to the world. In the chant that we used to honor another unsung Sheroe – Sandra Bland, let us say their names –

Rihanna Fenty
Leonie Evadney Forbes
The I-Threes
Amanda Gorman
Buffy Sainte Marie
Dr. Louise Simone Bennett-Coverley
Greta Thunberg
Wangari Muta Maathai
Chirlane McCray (former 1st Lady of NYC)
Beverley Manley
Winnie Madikizela Mandela
Michelle LaVaughn Obama
Gwendoline Louise Anderson Bonner (author’s mother)
Elizabeth Gale Spiro
Muriel Sylvia
Woman at the Wailing Wall
Definitely add this book to your list of ‘must haves’ it has the makings of an heirloom that you’ll want to pass on. Woman in the Wind can be purchased on Amazon in book format or via kindle

The post Review – Woman in the Wind by Sheron Hamilton-Pearson appeared first on Jamaicans.com.

This is a Podcast of the Jamaica & Caribbean Weekly News Summary for the week ending November 17 2023 JAMAICA WEEKLY News Summary Podcast is brought to you by Jamaicans.com. For past Jamaica & Caribbean Weekly News Podcasts please visit our archives

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In an interview with Island Origins magazine, the founder of one of the top digital platforms for Caribbean history and culture, Saint Lucian filmmaker Fiona Compton, discusses what led her to launch, “Know Your Caribbean,” which she describes as a “celebration of Caribbean voices.”

What’s included at “Know Your Caribbean”

Compton notes that “Know Your Caribbean” is not only a website or a social media platform, but that it is a place that informs and educates its visitors about the history, culture, and vibes of the real Caribbean. She says it is a place where the past and present meet in film, photographs, art, and a podcast, and all of these elements tell the stories of the region’s “deep history” and culture. Compton’s motivation for the project stems from her belief that Caribbean people need to “re-learn ourselves and also celebrate ourselves.” Due to a lack of information about the region, “Know Your Caribbean” was designed as a “treasure chest of untold stories,” and it does not only provide facts, but a celebration of voices from the Caribbean “challenging the norm.” For example, it covers English, Dutch, French, Spanish, Kweyol, and Patois-speaking countries, along with some Papiamentu as well.

Compton’s Caribbean Connection

Compton’s background includes filmmaking, which she began after graduating from the university and feeling “disenfranchised.” She began telling stories about resistance in the Caribbean, and over time, transferred her skills to “Know Your Caribbean” when she was unable to find good information about the Caribbean for her projects. She wanted to provide a place that would tell people more than what they would find in traditional history books and tourist brochures. She stated that her parents made sure to pass on their love of history and storytelling to her, and as both were involved in history and politics, she was raised on political battles and archeological discoveries like the Kalinago axe heads found by her mother.

Compton Finds Her Audience and Makes Discoveries

Compton has been gratified by seeing how people are connecting with the resources they find at Know Your Caribbean, and she is proud to have seen her writings displayed around the world. She also appreciates the fact that people worldwide reach out to tell her how they enjoy learning about the region. “Know Your Caribbean” has more than 1 million global accounts that visit the project each month. Through unexpected discoveries from the archives to curated events and dancehall vibes, Compton has brought Caribbean culture to major media sites like Meta, Reddit, and Hearst Publishing.

Making Connections

In addition to the website, “Know Your Caribbean” fosters “Instagram takeovers,” which are meant to show that the platform showcases many voices from the Caribbean, including those of artists, historians, and filmmakers. Compton also offers a podcast that covers everything about the Caribbean, which is heard in over 150 countries. Podcast chats cover many things that are not covered on the site or on social media, such as enslavement, African spirituality, and Christianity.

Upcoming Projects

Plans for the future of “Know Your Caribbean” include projects that will seek to heal the wounds inflicted via colonial legacies. Compton wants to work with communities to support and heal them. She also plans to stage more in-person events and invites everyone to stay tuned to the “next chapter” of the Caribbean story. “It’s going to be epic,” she promised.

Photo – Island Origins, Know Your Caribbean

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