'Footbottom power', ingenuity, and bauxite community relations

The bauxite-alumina industry has made a significant contribution to the economic and social development of Jamaica.

An example could be taken from the education sector where each company has traditionally carried out the role of godfather to schools and students in their operating areas. This could number as high as 60 institutions per company, with the industry sharing an interest and involvement from early-childhood education to university level.

Jamalco has conducted comprehensive education assistance programmes in Clarendon, including the provision of scholarships, a road-safety campaign, an employee-led mentoring programme for students, a major book drive, and assistance with building or renovation programmes.

Noranda Bauxite opened its doors this year to 150 tertiary-level students for work experience during the summer. The company also provided grants to the most outstanding Grade Six Achievement Test performers from schools in their mining and plant communities. Scholarship assistance is provided to students at university and other tertiary levels based on stated criteria.

The work of Alcan, Kaiser, Windalco and Alpart in the education field is legendary.

The industry's footprint has been cast in the social areas of education, agriculture, health, and youth development. The companies have done much more, however, to shape a comprehensive and close relationship with Jamaicans particularly in the rural areas.

An outstanding example is the National Pushcart Derby, created by Kaiser in 1975 as an opportunity for youngsters who utilised handcarts for various lifestyles to be recognised for their innovation, skills and application.

The popular event is an interesting part of industry history. It was a period when the corporate world took time off from the rigorous production of bauxite and alumina to make an institution out of the indigenous pushcart tradition in Jamaica.

The idea originated with Con Pink, public relations supervisor. It started as a small parish event in St Ann. Carts came from the Brown's Town market and districts around the bauxite plant.

Parish organisations were built up with voluntary input from persons like Noel Lawrence in St James; Coswell Glover in St Thomas; Bill Daniels, Hayden Ramsay and Winston Cassanova in May Pen; Westmoreland SDC's Clarence Pringle; Barry Dixon in St Mary; O.J. Lawrence in Manchester; Calvin Bariffe in St Elizabeth; and the indefatigable police public relations teams led by Neville Wheatley, Barry Cross, and Hyacinth Stewart-Williamson.

Premier event

At Discovery Bay, National was the premier event of the summer. Kaiser had over 100 employees on the organising committee, with Ken Lowe at the top of the hill as Chief Marshall, Lincoln Russell, Errol Dunn, and Aziel Bennett the standard starters, Algon Senn Yuen, Elworth Williams and Lindy Forbes as transportation managers, and the irrepressible James Larmond in charge of grounds preparation.

At the finish line, St Ann mayor, Sam Campbell, Herb McKenley, Mike McCallum, Sir Florizel Glasspole, chief delegate, Willy Wilson, all waved the victory flag at various times in the colourful history of the sport.

Several traditions grew up around the Derby. Sir Florizel was a most enthusiastic patron. The children looked forward to the prompt, 11:45 a.m. helicopter arrival of the GG each year.

The early front-runners were the Trelawny team, and it was whispered that they used yam juice as lubricant for their wheels (sounds familiar).

The most popular cart, 'Recca', was said to have gone over 60mph down the racetrack christened 'Spyglass Hill' by the boys.

Jamaica's bobsled entry into the Winter Olympics was inspired by the Derby. And in 1992, we received a call from Walt Disney Studios seeking permission to film scenes at the Kaiser Sports Club for a motion picture based on the pushcart and the bobsled adventures. The film was to be called 'Sno-Kone'. It was later changed to Cool Runnings and became a runaway hit.

A tribute to 'footbottom power', Jamaican ingenuity, and bauxite community relations.

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