Manchester communities fêted

Angelo Laurence, Gleaner Writer

CHUDLEIGH, Manchester:

PLAGUED BY bad road conditions, lack of water and other basic infrastructure, residents of the communities of Craighead, Breezy Hill and Chudleigh have not let these problems dampen their Christmas spirit.

Several hundred parents and well-wishers turned out for a day of fun and treats for the nearly one hundred students who attend the Chudleigh Basic School in North East Manchester, last Friday.

The smiles, which became permanent fixtures on the children's faces for much of the day, were memorable for principal Sashoy White-Bailey and other staff members of the school.

Senior teacher at the school, Patricia Smith, was touched by the gesture of those who contributed to the occasion.

Smith, along with the other staff members, was particularly grateful to retired nurse, Rose Robinson and her friends who annually collect items in the United States and bring them to the school for distribution to the children. Robinson, who is a product of the community, has been making the trip from Bronx, New York, with gifts for students of the school since 1988.

Rose said every child should be given the opportunity to have a "Christmas-like" childhood and it should be everyone's responsibility to make it a reality. Although lauded as a good Samaritan, Rose said it was not about being a good Samaritan, it was more about loving her people and country.

She lamented that when she was a child, "not even a balloon" did she have at Christmas time. The day's event culminated with a concert.