
By Neals J. Chitan
Just this July, I stood before hundreds of children, youth and adults in the sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, delivering the high impact social skill session “Getting Up and Moving On when Life gets Unfair,” Session #4 of “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK-Carriacou 2014.”
This presentation was loaded with strategies and concepts which were designed and copyrighted to equip participants with the resolve to get up when life knocks them down or throw unfair unexpected and difficult situations in their path. As I wrung the juice out of this session, using my heart wrenching anecdotal style of delivery, I told the story of ten year old Steven, whose mother kissed him and dropped him off to school that morning but never pick him up in the afternoon. The audience was tense and frozen as they waited for the details of her tragic demise which forever cheated Steven and his dad from a mother and wife.
In the audience that day, as with every other day of programming, was my colleague, co-ordinator and friend Senator Jester Emmons with whom I had negotiated months before to get these powerful sessions to the people of Carriacou and Petite Martinique, a people he deeply loved , respected and represented.
As the presentation came to an end, I vividly remember him saying to me, “Mr. Chitan, this was so real! There are so many families here in Carriacou who have experienced the UNFAIRNESS of life. Thanks for coming Sir! You are making a difference for them!”
For the next few weeks we continued working together, travelling across the island from Lauriston Stadium in Lesterre to the Hillsborough Community Centre, to Dover Government School and then taking the speed boat across to the 586 acres island of Petite Martinique with its 1000 inhabitants. A place the young politician held dear to his heart.
With his contagious smile and “no problem” attitude, he responded almost daily to frequent requests and scheduled me to deliver professional development sessions with civil servants, with members of the Grenada Royal Police Force and other government departments, schools and community agencies that he thought could benefit from our concepts and strategies, while taking to the radio airwaves and news print to ensure full impact.
As we were winding down closer to the end of our four weeks program, Senator Emmons started planning the grand finale, “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK” graduation which was schedule for July 19, 2014. Inviting out government dignitaries, clergy, businessmen, students and the community at large, the day evolved into a historic event with 140 graduates receiving a Canadian issued crime prevention social skill certificate while leaving their foot prints on the social landscape of Carriacou and Petite Martinique through the Anti-Violence and Drug march which followed through the streets of Hillsborough.
That very Saturday afternoon, boarding the Osprey Lines, the local ferry, and waving good bye to my friend, Senator Emmons and 140 social change catalysts on the twin sister islands, I headed to Grenada to begin “UNSHACKLED” a one week series delivering two original copyrighted Addiction Forming and Dismantling Models.
Duty beyond pleasure demanded that I should be in Grand Anse Valley on the mainland the following evening to launch the new series of presentations, and so we sailed off across the open 52 miles Atlantic journey towards Grenada, but carrying in my heart the poignant memories of “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK-Carriacou 2014” and the unbelievable leadership of Senator Jester Emmons.
Sunday evening brought me a new audience, and I was just about to grab the microphone when the doors opened and to my utter amazement and surprise, walking in was my friend and brother Senator Jester Emmons. I was so excited, I could barely contain myself. He had taken the next flight to Grenada to come and experience the UNSHACKLED series himself.
The presentation ended in a moving demonstration of individuals pledging to be back with friends and relatives the next evening, to which Senator Emmons exclaimed, “Man we need these sessions in Carriacou also, too many of our young men are smoking and drinking alcohol and messing up their lives.” I could see hear the urgency in his voice and I promised that I will do whatever I can to be back in Carriacou and Petite Martinique as soon as we can have it arranged to deliver UNSHACLKED.
August found me back in Toronto to begin our fifth “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK” series for 2104. But we kept in constant contact trying to negotiate a time and cost for the UNSHACKLED series for Carriacou and Petite Martinique. The weeks quickly turned into months and for the first week of November our “Project STOP ‘n’ THINK” team headed out for vacation aboard the Carnival Breeze Caribbean Cruise Line, as my wife and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary.
I should have known better, because I have always taught in my sessions that you should keep vigilant and prepared even when celebrating or having fun. The cruise was relaxing and gave the team the rest time we needed, but to my horror on the final day, amidst all the fun and excitement came another of life’s episode of UNFAIRNESS one more time. An email that I wish I did not open!! To my utter dismay and disbelief, the tragic news of the unexpected passing of my brother and friend, the young dynamic and dedicated Senator Jester Emmons.
Even if emotionally broken by the news, I look back as I retraced all the great conversations we shared. You see, we had driven, eaten, spoken, walked and worked together for one month, and the love for his wife and children, his concerns and plans for the youth of Carriacou and Petite Martinique and his dedication to his church were daily topics of the discussions as we shared as brothers, fathers and men.
And so today I salute my brother and say; “Take your rest Soldier, you have done well. I did not know that life was going to be so UNFAIR to you so soon! But my friend, your name will forever be remembered. You have left your footprints on the sands of time, and Carriacou and Petite Martinique will forever be different because of you.”
On behalf of Motiv-8 For Change International, I express our deepest condolences, sympathy and love to the family, parents, siblings and community of Senator Jester Emmons. Rest in Peace my brother!!