MISS CARIBBEAN & COMMONWEALTH
- the contest that is more than just a contest -

Will soon have its own website
with all details of the history of the title
and of the current contest.

The website is currently under construction
and will be launched very shortly.

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DUDLEY THOMPSON – A TRIBUTE
A LIFE IN OUTLINE

Contribution to the building of Jamaica .... is unparalleled
Heard the call to “join up” while sitting in the dentist’s chair

Dudley Thompson, Jamaican politician and diplomat, distinguished international lawyer and Pan-Africanist, has died in the U.S.A. where he had lived for several years, just one day after he celebrated his 95^th birthday. Mr Thompson, who was also a Rhodes Scholar and served in the RAF during the Second World War, was brash, outspoken and controversial but he was also a raconteur of note who laughed as easily as he frowned. On his passing P.J. Patterson, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, said: “His contribution to the building of Jamaica as a nation - to its constitution, jurisprudence, its diplomacy, its political system, global reputation and its international standing is unparalleled”.
Nevertheless Mr Thompson’s long and varied life will be defined – for the countries in the West, at least – primarily by his role in the ideologically fraught years of the 1970s when Jamaica, and the Caribbean generally, was torn between the contending camps of capitalism and communism as represented respectively by their neighbours, the U.S.A. and Cuba. As Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 1972 to 1975 in Michael Manley’s first administration, and as Minister of National Security later in the decade, Dudley was seen from the outside to be the driving-force of democratic-socialism steering his country closer to the Castro camp. The regional tension was not resolved until Manley was defeated in the election of 1980 and the American-led invasion of Grenada three years later lanced the boil of Caribbean radicalism.
As the responsible minister Mr Thompson’s reputation suffered at home through his response to the “Green Bay” incident of 1978 in which ten convicts, or political opponents, depending on your point of view, were lured by promises of work to a spot where five of their number were shot dead by soldiers of the island’s defence force. His remark that “No angels died at Green Bay”, for which he apologised publicly in 2001, bedevilled Dudley for the rest of his political life.
Dudley Thompson – like the cricketer and folk-hero George Headley – was born in Panama, where Jamaicans had a prominent role in building the Canal, and raised in Jamaica. In the Second World War he attained the rank of Flight Lieutenant in the RAF, a rare distinction for a black man from the colonies at the time. He said that he had answered the call to “join up” on hearing the appeal to arms while sitting in the dentist’s chair.
After the conflict was over Mr Thompson, who had been educated at Micro College in Kingston, won a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Oxford University in 1947 where he obtained an M.A. in Jurisprudence. He was called to the Bar at Gray’s Inn in 1950.
While in London he got to know well several of the future leaders of the movements for independence in the African colonies, including Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Jomo Kenyatta, who went on to lead Ghana and Kenya respectively, and political philosopher George Padmore. Mr Thompson set up his early law practice in Tanganyika (now Tanzania) and Kenya where he organised the defence for Kenyatta in the Mau Mau trials of 1952 – from which he was given the name “Burning Spear” – and advised Julius Nyerere, the future leader of Tanzania. He recalled his experiences in East Africa in his book, published in 1993, “From Kingston to Kenya – The Making of a Pan-Africanist lawyer”.
On returning to Jamaica, Dudley joined the left-leaning People’s National Party (PNP) in the work towards independence. He fought two bruising – but losing - battles for the inner-city seat of West Kingston with Edwards Seaga, who later became leader of the rival pro-American Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and Prime Minister. Their strained relationship was exacerbated by the contentious disputes of the 1980s, when Jamaican elections were often marked by a high level of violence, but each came in time to accept that the other was “necessary for Jamaica”.
On the strength of his reputation as an international lawyer he sat in the Senate from 1962 until he won the Parliamentary seat of St Andrew West in 1978. He quit Parliament after the 1983 election, in which the JLP was returned unopposed, and later became Ambassador and High Commissioner to several African countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Namibia and Sierra Leone. While his political image may have been a little stern, Mr Thompson retained his popularity with the people of Jamaica by his ready wit, his courtroom oratory – he became President of the Jamaica Bar Association in 1963, and a flair for the dramatic.
The cause of Pan-Africanism took up much of Mr Thompson’s remaining years. He had been awarded a “Legend of Africa” medal from the Organisation of African States, to go with the Order of Jamaica, one of his country’s most prestigious distinctions. Dudley said that he hoped to survive to be 100 years old, by which time he was sure that there would be a United States of Africa, which, with the international African Diaspora, would be a major player in world affairs.
Although he was disappointed in that hope, Mr Thompson lived long enough to see the return of a PNP government in Jamaica just under a month before his death. With his death and the passing of his political colleague David Coore towards the end of last year, Jamaica has lost two of the last remaining key players of the years immediately before and after the attainment of independence in 1962 - the 50th anniversary of which will be celebrated in August this year - and of the turbulent years of the 1970s.
Dudley Thompson married Cecile Eistrup (nee Miller), and had a son and four daughters, five grandchildren, and various great-grandchildren.

Dudley Joseph Thompson OJ, QC, M.A. (Oxon)
Born in Panama, 19 January 1917
Died in New York, 20 January 2012

Clayton Goodwin   

 

Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth – New Challengers

Leah Prescod (left) representing Barbados and Rosie Ajuna (right) representing Uganda have entered the contest but have not yet let us have their bio-details.

Jernita has the “spirit” of Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth
Embarks on journey to take the title 

Jernita, who was in the audience to see the 23^rd Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth, told CaribCommx why she wants to add her name the list of title-holders:
"In everything you do, give thanks and perform every task whole-heartedly  for tomorrow is not promised to any one", is a phrase I recite and practice on a daily basis which have contributed to where I stand today. Hailing from a land which is richly blessed with 365 rivers, friendly people, lush green scenery and the world's second largest boiling lake, I am 23 year old Jernita Esprit. I will be proudly representing the land of my birth; the nature isle of the Caribbean, Dominica at the 24th annual Miss Caribbean and Commonwealth UK competition.
It is of firm belief that education is not only the key but the gateway to success. With that being said, I am currently being educated at a tertiary level. My love for travelling has led me to pursue a bachelors degree in the field of Business Management in Travel and Tourism. Upon completing this degree, I intend on applying the skills and knowledge learnt within the Tourism sector. Determined, loving and persevering are just a few words which describe the individual within me. In my spare time I take pleasure in engaging in activities such as: swimming, keeping fit, interacting with children, surfing the world wide web, shopping, reading, spending quality time with my family and watching programmes which promote cultural diversity and weight loss. Just like any Caribbean beauty, I have a passion for Sports - athletics and cricket are my preferred as I am an avid supporter of West Indies Cricket and sprinting sensation Usain Bolt.
Stemming from humble beginnings, I have been taught to be independent, respectful and ambitious by my mum. For this reason, I consider my mother to be a great source of motivation to me. From a tender age, She has instilled in me the importance of excelling academically and carrying myself like every young woman should do. Sir Richard Branson also motivates me in many ways as he is evidence that determination breeds success which played a vital role in the success of Virgin Atlantic empire.
It is my aim to enhance my communication and interpersonal skills by partaking in the Miss Caribbean and Commonwealth show. I would also like to be an advocate for individuals who are of low self esteem and inspire others that prosperity can occur against all odds. It is also important to prove that competitions such as the Miss Caribbean and Commonwealth do not revolve around physical attributes and prizes attained but rather individual growth and development into a role model to young people.  Additionally, the experience gained is among the cherished treasures I hope to take from this show.
As I embark upon the journey of Miss Caribbean and Commonwealth, I will not only gain strength from the almighty but I will also thrive upon a personal mantra which has helped me in standing firm and it is with hope that everyone reading can be inspired as well; "success is not solely reliant upon one attaining their goals but also the manner in which one handles the challenges faced along their journey; for in life we have the ultimate power to either stop at the hurdle faced or jump over the hurdle courageously, thereby demonstrating a true champion".

 

Barbara Byabazire – representing Uganda – has entered the Miss Caribbean & Commonwealth challenge. More details of Barbara can be found on Miss C & C 2012 / January 2012.