Ah Proud ah my All-me-matter

Grade-yuh-eye-shun time of year is here, when just about every school “ Pre, Prep, Primary; Secondary, Tertiary, College, University will be having Grad-yuh-aye-shun. Ah remember in de ole days back in de 1950’s, Grad-yuh-aye-shun was ah special ceremony foh University Graduates only.

But in Boy’s Grammar School (BGS) my “All-me-Matter,” de ceremony was called “Speech Night.” Peace Mo was de venue and ah vividly remember George Charles attending as Minister of Eddy-Care-shun. J. F Gordon was Headmaster. We had ah powerful Boys Choir wid Pat Prescod as Choir Master, and dey was a Drama Club wid teen-age youths like Cammy King, John Horne, Tim Daisey, Lennox John, and others. Ah remmber dem doing one ah Shakespeare’s Play. And of course dey was Prize Giving and presentation of Certificates. Good ole days actually.

But, last Wednesday was ah big day foh St Vincent Grammar School (same BGS). Ah got caught by Fr. Ulric Jones, retired Anglican Priest, my school-mate (Class of 1955). He was
scheduled to present de “Dr Errol G King Memorial Award for Most Rounded Student.”

Unfortunately, Fr Jones was unable to make de presentation so he sternly ordered me to do de honours. Dat’s how he behaves, just because he is very much my senior by only ah month.

De ceremony was good as always. Ah was looking at de programme dis year as compared with dat of 2015. Very interesting dat Mr Curtis King was Headmaster in 2015, he has since retired, and within those past nine years he is back but as Minister of Eddy-care-shun. Good foh Mr King. Dey was dis joke on him during de Calm Pain when he was asked why is he getting into politics.

“Man haffo eat ah food”, was his reply. Well, Lie-Za says next year is Elect-shun and de seat of Pry Minister will be vacant, she wonder what “Man haffo eat dis time.”. Back to de
programme foh dis year. Mathematics Teacher Mr Colin Sam is now Headmaster. But in 2015 Mr Sam led de singing of de Nah-shun-all Anthem. Ah must add-myth dat Mr Sam’s Headmaster 2024 address entitled “Navigating Life’s Transition” was well navigated and on coast. Congrats Sir.

Also in 2015, while Christian Friday walked away wid de Science Prizes, one Chroslin Fraser received de Dr Errol King Award for Most Rounded Student as well as de “Headmaster’s
Award.” Chrislon is now ah practicing lawyer having completed his Law Studies. Like Chrislon Fraser in 2015, student Loic Paul dis year received de “Dr Errol King Award foh Most Rounded Student” as well as de “Headmaster’s Award.” Christopher Francis also shared de “Dr Errol King Award” wid Loic Paul. Ah felt encouraged dat in spite of all de negative vibes we getting about our young people, young men in particular, to witness at our No 1 all Boys Secondary School Prize Giving Ceremony, de giving out of not just Awards, but de quality of de Awards.
Six youngsters each received an “SVGG’s Core Value Award “ in de following areas: Respect! Integrity! Dedication! Excellence! and Responsibility! Sponsored by none other dan our own Sir Errol Allen. His daughter Unoma flew in from St Kitts to do de presentation.

Ah just feel it is overdue dat when our young people need to get Big Up foh hard wuk we must so do. We must be reminded by Henry Wordsworth Longfellow’s Poem: “The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the Night!”

So good to see our Nah-shun-all Uner 20 footballer, Leonard Lynch on stage delivering de Valedictorian Address. Kyo Davis who did us proud at CARIFESTA was recognized foh his Sterling Performances all year round. And ah want to encourage de Class of 2024 and mek men-shun of youths like Loic Paul, Rion Veira, Desvorn John, Lazzaro Lynch,and Chazze Ledger, all Core Value Awardees.

Ah not sorry dat Fr Ulric Jones was unable to attend and ordered me to so do. It was ah Blessing, and ah feel proud of my All-me-Matter. Ah Job Well done by Headmaster Sam and his hard wuking Staff.

And wid dat I gone ah gone again

One Love Bassy.

• Bassy Alexander is a land surveyor, folklorist and social commentator.