Governor General Sir Florizel Glasspole, speaking at the Kiwanis International Convention in Ocho Rios, painted a sobering picture of global and local challenges—citing poverty, unemployment, drugs, child abuse, and political divisions. He warned that true peace remains elusive without sustained action, and urged service clubs like Kiwanis to lead efforts in confronting the world’s mounting social and economic obstacles.

Published Tuesday, May 5, 1987

GG lauds Kiwanis as 70th convention opens

Peace on earth will never be a goal that is attainable within the foreseeable future except by the continuity of consistent action by all the agencies pledged to work vigorously in their efforts to achieve it, Governor General Sir Florizel Glasspole said on Sunday night.

There were so many obstacles: “There are the political obstacles; there are ideological obstacles; and there are the national boundary lines obstacles. All these combine to make us feel that the mission cannot be accomplished.” Furthermore, economic obstacles surrounded everybody day after day, where the underprivileged and unemployed find it so difficult to survive in an atmosphere that seems unsympathetic to them.

Sir Florizel was giving the welcome address at the 70th annual convention of the Kiwanis International District of Eastern Canada and the Caribbean at the Americana Hotel, Ocho Rios.

“But what is more, internationalism must not be regarded as something of a by-line. It must be treated as what the world demands today—a matter of prime importance. Your clubs have the responsibility to help lead the way,” he said.

Looking at problems in the society, the Governor General said: “We live in troubled times.”

There was the problem of drugs, as it affected communities in nearly every country of the world. There was the problem of child abuse, so common to all lands.

There was the problem of stark poverty existing in every country in the world, from the richest to the poorest.

There was the problem of unemployment, and there was the problem of the aged.
“The Kiwanis movement is one of many whose objectives are to play a meaningful role in the everyday life of our respective territories in the best way they can; and, thank God, they are doing just that in every country,” he said.

Nothing mattered more to the mass of human beings than their need for one another. Beyond that, Man was one of the few creatures to gather his progeny around him in permanent families.

Referring to Jamaica, Sir Florizel told the Kiwanians that Jamaica has had 25 years of “a powerful, live and dynamic democracy” going strong over all these years.
“We are totally committed to freedom and democracy in our country, in our Constitution and in our political life, and we have entrenched in our Constitution fundamental rights and freedoms,” Sir Florizel said.

Jamaica had an independent Privy Council, an independent Director of Public Prosecutions, and an absolutely independent Judiciary.

“Over the 25 years, we have not been without serious economic, political and social problems,” he said. “Our people have not failed to meet all the challenges.

“We have had a problem with our present Parliament being a one-party Parliament arising out of serious differences between the two political parties in 1983, when an election was called suddenly. But the party in Opposition has continued to maintain its powerful role outside of Parliament,” Sir Florizel said.

He told the Kiwanians about Jamaica’s 25th independence anniversary and the celebration of the centenary of National Hero, the Rt. Excellent Marcus Garvey.
Sir Florizel was presented with a plaque of appreciation for his contribution.
The opening ceremony saw a salute to the flags of thirteen of the fourteen nations in the district present at the convention, and the singing of their national anthems.
The countries are: the Commonwealth of the Bahamas; the Netherlands Antilles; Aruba; the French territories of Martinique, Guadeloupe and French Guiana; Trinidad and Tobago; Barbados; Suriname; St. Lucia; and the host country, Jamaica.

The Governor of the District, Mr. Glen Bagnell, who presented Sir Florizel with the plaque, also welcomed the delegates, their families and friends to the convention, which he described as the largest convention being held outside of Canada.
This is the second time the convention is being held in Jamaica, the first having been in 1976, he said.

Distinguished Lieutenant Governor and Kiwanis International representative in Jamaica, Mr. Harry Bent, extended a welcome on behalf of the Jamaican Kiwanians.
The convention will see the election of the District Governor for 1987–88 and Governor-Elect, for which Jamaica’s Mr. Carlton Levy is a contender. This is the first time a Jamaican will contest the election.

Approximately 853 delegates, wives and children are in attendance at the four-day conference being held at both the Mallards Beach and Americana Hotels.
The Jamaica Military Band, under the baton of Major Joe Williams, gave a concert prior to the opening ceremony and also performed during the ceremony.

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