What exactly does the peace corps worker do for BREDS?

Where are all the computers that were previously donated for the computers for schools program BREDS had going?

Next and last question, the DEC 10, 2003 article in JIS website quotes Jason saying the new wing at Sandy Bank Primary that houses their computer lab and library would be opened in the evenings for all community members. Why did this never happen?

From the article..."Discussing how the project was formulated, Mr. Henzell said: "First of all the classrooms were only divided by blackboards so you can imagine the noise levels and easily conclude that it was not a great learning environment for students so we decided to add on an additional wing".

The Chairman of BREDS explained that the new facility would be properly utilised by "all members of the community."

"Both the library and computer lab will be opened to the community in the evenings and we are going to talk to HEART Trust/NTA about (it) being affiliated with us, there are lots of other persons who came forward such as Tranquillity Bay and Sunset Villa who will be donating the air conditioning unit.we did fund- raisers at Jack Sprat Restaurant with the homecoming foundation as well as with the parish development committee.today is a proud day for BREDS," he said.

There was a new computer room put on to Sandy Bank Primary donated by Sue Cobb and Breds together. The computers in it were donated by Breds, Karen & Peter Kennedy, Lynette at Gallo, and probably others. I never saw an A/C unit in that room, though Kory South is one of the unsung heroes of Treasure Beach, doing a lot with no PR at all. The problem with the A/C, assuming it was installed, MAY be the horrendous electric costs from JPS. (I have only seen fans in the computer room.) So far as I know, there was never Internet connectivity in the computer lab. Miss Zane had to wait months on end for C&W to install ONE computer line for her official use. By now, I believe the computers are essentially dead. There is no one who comes in to service them on a regular basis, and the heat is definitely very bad for them. Power surges are another thing that contribute to a computer's early demise in Treasure Beach. I have never seen the lab open at night for community use.

I stand to be corrected if any of the above information is not totally correct.

I would rather hear less promises and see more action. Instead of promising the moon and the stars, pick one or two things and do them well.

His name is Dennis. He's nice. He works in the BREDS Source office in Kingfisher Plaza and also does some work with the TBWG. I'm not clear what he does but BREDS has had a Peace Corps worker for a long time. Dennis got to TB in April.

One thing Peace Corp V/Ts (volunteers and trainees) are NOT supposed to do is to engage in any political activity. Since the Sports Park has become a political issue, my interpretation is the Peace Corps volunteer should have nothing to do with expressing his viewpoints about the Sports Park, negative or positive. This is spelled out in Section 3.9 of the Peace Corps rules for general conduct:

“V/Ts must avoid becoming involved in the political affairs of their host country. Any public statement or action which potentially may involve a V/T with host country political issues or other controversial issues within the host country, or which are otherwise matters of official concern to Peace Corps, must be first discussed and reviewed with the Country Director.”

I have two very serious questions based on what Peace Corps Manual said and I am looking for serious feedback from TB.net readers.

1. Do you think the Sports Park is a political or controversial issue in T/B?

2. What would constitute a "public" statement?

My follow up comment was never posted.

Really strange as it met all guidelines.

Not really any different than what my2cents says above just with a few more specific points.

For example if BREDS is also having a nurse on staff why do we not know how to reach her or what her function in the community is?

Kind of depressing to see this type of censorship in the midst of some important issues.

Also depressing to see fear to air questions and comments when they are non-offensive, not rumors or personal attacks, just observations and honest questions.

My first question is what does the peace corps worker do for BREDS. No doubt he is a nice man if he has chosen to work in the peace corps. Just wondering what is his function as I do see him at the BREDS place in an office on a laptop but wondering what is his role?

Wondering really how all of this stuff is a help in our community or how it could be more helpful.

The BREDS SOURCE office appears to be more of a commercial venture than a community help. Even the children must pay to use the computers. The other Source centers I think one of which is in Kingston I thought were free for the community.

I recall reading something to the effect of even the window washers/ street kids are made to feel welcome and encouraged to use the facility.

I always see the same set of teens and a few tourists utilizing the facility we have in Treasure Beach.

I guess it is getting a bit discouraging to see the face put on things but the real groundwork and community effects not really happening. Not that BREDS is truly obligated to do ANYTHING for the community, but it seems their is more effort put into things like GREEN GLOBE CERTIFICATION, global tourism competitions, cushy- glossy press releases, so called peace park tree plantings that apparently may not have happened and a "community sports park" that looks like it will end up being environmentally unsound, noise and traffic nightmare and NOT a place where our local children can learn and practice sports for free on good grounds.

Great that we have been given an ambulance and trained first aid responders. Perhaps great if BREDS has a nurse on staff. Although I don't know where she can be found, how I could reach her, or what she is able to do for me as a member of this community.

Great that BREDS put electricity in the post office. It is nice that Ms.Sharon has more pleasant working conditions, she deserves it.

What is not great is perhaps stretching an organization too thin to appear to be benefitting a community and not being transparant, honest, and in it for the long haul, not just until the ink dries on the latest press release claiming to have just done something else for the people.

It is part of human nature to remember bad things more than good things. I think Breds gets themselves into this fix by promising more than they can do. Then what people are remembering are broken promises.

If the TBWG was promising a health fair and then they didn't have it people would be annoyed. If people asked about it on TB.net and the TBWG chose not to respond people would get even more annoyed. If Treasure Beach Foundation promised scholarships and then didn't award them people would be quite disappointed. If they were questioned about it and didn't respond people would start to get angry. These are both volunteer organizations - like Breds - and they both solicit donations in the community, from readers of TB.net and from other sources. When people make donations to any organization they feel they have a right to know how their money is being spent. They feel they have a right to hold the organization accountable.

Breds might feel they are not required to answer any questions posed on this site, and they would be correct about that. What they don't seem to realize is how angry they have gotten many people by acting like the readers of TB.net don't count. I think this is very unfortunate because when they come out and ask for donations or for people to attend one of their functions it is possible people might choose to "pay them back" by ignoring THEIR request. It works both ways.

You may have hit some nails on the head, Still Wonderin Bout It. BREDS is essentially a volunteer organization with very few paid employees. The fact they get almost anything done is quite excellent because I agree they tend to spread themselves too thin. I think many people are frustrated about BREDS because they have a way of promising a lot and then not living up to all their promises. If I ran BREDS I would promise far less but be sure to do everything I promised. I would also do my best to be as open and transparent as possible because people think they are hiding things by not coming out and explaining what is going on. This does not mean they are hiding one thing but it gives the appearance of covering up, and that starts rumors.

Your questions about the nurse are excellent. I would also like to have that information.

The BREDS Source IS a commercial service. It is sponsored by Jamaican National. The use of the computers in the BREDS Source is also a commercial service. Emails addressed to BREDS as an organization are received and opened at the BREDS office not at the Breds Source. Why the Peace Corps worker assigned to BREDS is based in a commercial environment rather than a place set up for volunteers or the official BREDS office is beyond me.

Someone needs to help me remember something. After hurricane Ivan someone told me money for a fan for the post office had been set aside from the money that was collected to help the community. Why did it take FIVE YEARS for that post office to actually have the fan installed?

To Serious Feedback: Yes the Sports Park is a political or controversial issue in Treasure Beach. It might be about the most such controversial issue I've ever heard about. My opinion is a public statement is one that is made in front of an audience. I would also count it as public if it is made in a smaller conversation but not necessarily with close friends.

It was stated in a thread not too long ago that the BREDS nurse is located at the Source/BREDS office at the Kingfisher Plaza Mondays - Fridays from around 9:00 - 5:00 unless she is out on an ambulance call.

If I recall correctly, the issue with the electricity to be placed in the postal annex taking so long was due to the fact that they needed to get permission from the government as the postal annex is owned and run by the government. I seem to remember a conversation on this site stating the amount of bureaucracy and time this took up. I would guess that is why it took so long.

About the electric at the post office I was told the postmistress had been asked to pay the deposit to JPS herself and also to guarantee monthly electric payments personally, and she did not want to do this. Someone could ask her to be certain I am not incorrect.

Well these are good discussions. BREDS has great ideas and even greater potential as an organization in our community given the resources and leadership they have.

I think it is obvious to all that they have alot of power to do some real good, but perhaps the projects could be more transparent, driven by more community discussion and input, less in variety with a greater emphasis on the sustainability and longevity.

Then again those are my observations.

Good info on the nurse, thanks for that. I assume she will do basic check-ups etc? So if anyone wanted to call her I suppose the contact number would be that of the BREDS Source.

Big up TB.net for allowing these discussions, thus far this thread has been clean and not deteriorated into any accusatory tone.
And thanks for not censoring my second post on the thread, when I saw a post on the board with a later time than the one I had submitted, I assumed that is what happened.

I am almost positive the reason for the five year delay in relieving the oven like conditions in the post office were due to someone or some organization finally taking the responsibility for the JPS bills that would ensue. From what I heard, roughly 10,000J had been set aside from the Hurricane Ivan funds to purchase an overhead fan and for electrical work to install it. The delay was due to no one wanting to guarantee the payments. The postmistress is an employee and I fully understand whey she didn't feel it was correct to assume legal responsibility for electrical bills at her place of employment.

The Peace Corps worker, Dennis, reads TB.net. It would be instructive if he would be so kind as to explain the different things he does in T/B. I think this would be very helpful.

The first post in this string asked some very good questions. Some people have answered but there is nothing official here. It seems BREDS has decided to ignore TB.net but what about the principal of Sandy Bank Primary School? We have brought books down to that school. I know those books weren't much but it's somewhat annoying to have NO ONE respond here who truly knows the answers.

In the spirit of making promises that seem to be unfulfilled, here is a quote from a May 5, 2003 BREDS press release speaking about the annual triathlon:

This non-profit community development organization is committed to the health, welfare and happiness of Treasure Beach and its environs. All proceeds will go to the charitable work of Breds, including the planned construction of a community center and the purchase of an ambulance for the Treasure Beach Emergency Response Unit.

So far as I know, the ambulance for the TBERU was donated.

This leaves the community center, something not even discussed by BREDS until it showed up on a 2009 plan for the Sports Park.

Can anyone shed further light on this?

The nurse is a trained Practical Nurse ( not a more advanced RN or LPN.) Her name is Nickesha Strachan. She is avaiable at Breds Source (Kingfisher Plaza )for blood pressure checks only for a fee of JA $100 (Mon.-Fri., 9:00am- 6:00 pm ). She also rides with the ambulance on emergency calls and helps with the administrative work of the Treasure Beach Emergency Response Unit. She is not trained to take blood or do check-ups,etc. Please go to a health clinic or doctor for those services.

I don't understand why you are not saying what you do in the community.

We'd like to point out that this is a public forum and, as such, no one is under any obligation to reply to posts here.

And as a suggestion, if you are referring to a specific individual then using your actual name may generate more responses.

-TBNet

IS THIS RIGHT? Seems like ,no matter if we are INsiders or Outsiders ,residents or tourists,we need our wonderful TB,Net.,not so our voices are really heard,or responded to in any way,but at least we do know we are not alone in caring what happens in Treasure Beach.And one day,when it's so different from what most of us love and remember,we'll remember that we did TRY.And some of us will remember when the boys played football in Great Bay,and when they were not playing,the field looked just like it did for generations,green and lush in the rain time,and sparse and brown in the dry time,and it was a fine place to play.It didn't cost a lot of money to maintain,it didn't need to be watered at the expense of the pond and waterbirds.The community didn't need to be discombobulated by huge crowds,parking lots,and one way roads.I think we shall miss the old ways.....and wonder how it changed......

Hey Eric, you were in the Peace Corps. Curious if you would be answering this question, assuming you were aware of it. I know this isn't a scientific poll.

By Joshua on Wednesday, September 16, 2009 - 05:59 pm: Edit Post
The nurse is a trained Practical Nurse ( not a more advanced RN or LPN.) Her name is Nickesha Strachan. She is avaiable at Breds Source (Kingfisher Plaza )for blood pressure checks only for a fee of JA $100 (Mon.-Fri., 9:00am- 6:00 pm ). She also rides with the ambulance on emergency calls and helps with the administrative work of the Treasure Beach Emergency Response Unit. She is not trained to take blood or do check-ups,etc. Please go to a health clinic or doctor for those services.

In the US an practical nurse is an LPN.

TB.net, you are right that no one HAS to respond to anything posted here. I cannot imagine why a U.S. Peace Corps worker who is helping out in the community doesn't even want to bother to say what he does. Not one person has said anything bad about him. No one implied he is not a nice and helpful person.

USA RN,Like Joshua says,she's a trained practical nurse,not a LPN.
You said in the USA a practical nurse is a LPN."WRONG".The L in LPN stands for LICENSE..
You train to become NA.PN,etc..that's what you are until you become certified or licensed.
RN...Registered nurse..NA,Nurse aid{CNA certified nurse assistant/aid}

Not personal,just correction.

To US RN

True word, and a LPN or License Nurse Practioner is trained to do just about anything a nurse does. Including and not limited to BP, Vital Statistics, Med history, etc. Bp here can be done at the drug store for free, no traning needed, because you do it yourself...lol..funny stuff, careful what is said.

The Breds Source is an initiative of the JNBS Foundation, and is the fourth in a chain of what are termed social enterprises. All the other Source Centres operate similar to TB.

As most people are aware, it can be quite easy accessing a grant to build a computer centre, or resource library, or whatever it is you need initial capital for within a community. The real challenge comes when you try to provide these services for the long term whilst maintaining a standard of quality which we at the JN Foundation feel all communities deserve.

The Source model is seen as a way of addressing the sustainability issue - by making many of the services fee based, the Centre ensures it has the operating funds needed to maintain itself over the long run. Without this, most Centres or essential community services close within 3 to 5 years.

The services at the Centre are there to support CBO's, local businesses, residents, young people etc. There are business support services, a literacy programme for all ages, studying and meeting facilities, hot desks for remote workers, internet access and much, much more. What we hope is that with time, activists and other community organisations will use the centre to deliver their services to the community and that the Source will become a true "Social Enterprise" and serve all stakeholders in TB.

Please also note that if the Centre does make a profit one day, then that profit is ploughed right back into service delivery.

If anyone on this forum wants more information on the operations of the Source, you can email me at foundation@jnbs.com. I would be happy to answer any questions. You can also post them here if you would like us to respond via this public forum.