32 Years and Looking to the Future
President Abdon Campbell
March 2006
The Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town
was chartered in March 1974 by members of the Kiwanis
Clubs of Kingston and Portmore. We are an all male club with diversified
membership, involving doctors, attorneys–at–law, bankers, accountants,
engineers, business associates, teachers, entrepreneurs, contractors, farmers,
other professionals, etc. It is said that we have the in-house expertise to take
any project from conceptualization to completion. Kiwanians are special people
with an inherent desire to “render altruistic service”. With this as our beacon
and the Jamaican propensity to have fun while we work, our members have
naturally become good friends that surround a common cause.
We are challenged by the
happening in Spanish Town; first known as St. Jago de la Vega: the former
capital of Jamaica in the parish of St. Catherine. Here you’ll find the finest
collection of historical buildings, the country’s archives and only gallows. Its
history was shaped by its experiences within two significant Colonial periods.
These periods are the Spanish from 1534 – 1655 and the English from 1655 – 1782.
Spanish Town has recovered from
many unfortunate circumstances. After Port Royal was devastated by earthquake in
1692, Spanish Town stood supreme for 180 years as the unchallenged business hub
of Jamaica. However serious rivalry from different groups in 1755 increased
concerns as to the suitability of Spanish Town to remain the capital of Jamaica.
Eventually, Kingston became the capital in 1872 after Spanish Town was
determined to be in ruins, with no commercial, manufacturing and agricultural
concerns in operation.
As we look to the future, the
history of Spanish Town is on the verge of being rewritten based on the
operational influence of two “groups”, the One Order and the Clansman. These
“groups” have the tremendous support of the grass roots and are strengthened by
the lack of social support, jobs, opportunities, education, etc. The “groups”
provide some level of support to their underlings that have translated to almost
blind loyalty to their cause. Neither the ruling Peoples National Party nor
Jamaica Labour Party appears to have the political will or ability to decisively
eliminate these “groups” from which they gain good electoral support.
Interestingly, both party leaders are from St. Catherine. What is more than
evident is the fact that the decay has to be halted. As Kiwanians, as business
leaders, as taximen, higglers, politicians, we have a collective responsibility
to rise up, to lead the process forward and by so doing give hope to the Spanish
Town community in particular and our country in general. Let us not condemn a
person because of where he/she was born but let us recognize that they have
special needs that require our attention.
The Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town
is looking to the future with a profound sense of hope and purposeful
interventions. Our challenges are many, but our resolve is strong. Through
loyalty and commitment we have made significant contributions to the development
of the Spanish Town community in such areas as education, youth development,
assistance to the elderly and indigent, assistance to the providers of health
care such of the Spanish Town General Hospital and health clinics, basic schools
and numerous other community services projects.
Additionally there is Kiwanis
Scholarship, through the Clovis Walters Memorial Scholarship fund that offers a
scholarship to a high school student.
Our contribution to the
extension of the Kiwanis family is identified through our sponsorship of the
Kiwanis Club of Linstead and the Kiwanis Club of The First City as well as nine
(9) sponsored Youth Clubs at the Primary and High School levels.
Our projects are achieved
through numerous fund raising activities. These are complemented by sponsorship
from the business community, international agencies as well as contributions
from club members and their families.
The club’s true potential is
maximized through our method of identifying the interest and special skills of
our members, after which they are assigned to related committees and projects in
accordance with the club’s objectives.
Our wish is to convince the more
fortunate citizens of this country that through sustained community service we
can reverse the social inequality that now exits. We believe that true community
development is not simply the process of rebuilding the physical infrastructure
of our neighbourhoods. It is fundamentally, about the vision, energy and
aspiration of people who live and work in our neighbourhood. The
Kiwanis objective is to assist these people to realize their aspirations.
As we, the 64 devoted members of
the Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town, celebrate 32 years of service to Spanish Town,
it is with renewed hope that we look to a brighter future. We are conscious of
the many challenges ahead, but we stand resolute in our determination and
commitment that we can contribute by being dedicated to changing the world one
child and one community at a time, because if we don’t, may God help our
children and our children’s children.
For More Information Contact:
Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town
P.O. Box 507, Spanish Town, St. Catherine, Jamaica, W.I,
Email:
kiwanisspanishtown@hotmail.com
Kiwanis Club of Spanish Town 
