- Carlington WilmotPatrick and Lorraine Lee.
Barbara Ellington, Features Co-ordinator
JAMAICAN-CANADIAN couple, Patrick and Lorraine Lee, are among an estimated 10,000 Chinese descendants now residing in Canada.
And they have made it their life's mission to find if not all, as many Jamaican Chinese as possible wherever they are in the world, for an upcoming book set to be published in February 2003.
In 2000, the Lees published Canadian Jamaican Chinese, capturing some 400 families living in Canada. They describe the book as an "extended family album" because it is largely pictorial and provides data on: father's name, mother's name, their village of origin in China and the school they attended.
The book was first published in 1957 by Mr. Lee's father, Lie Tom Yin and the new one will follow the same format as the others. Already the Lees have captured over 600 families for the new work. Data gathering for the project includes referrals, telephone calls and e-mail and the Lees expect it to be one of the focal points of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the arrival of the Chinese in Jamaica, come 2004.
It is noteworthy that the Chinese were first brought to Jamaica as indentured labourers from Hong Kong and Panama. Today, they hold key positions of leadership in all facets of Jamaican life from music to politics and continue to demonstrate the highest levels of entrepreneurial skills.
So far, they have identified Jamaican Chinese in the United States, Canada, Australia, Madagascar, Monaco, Germany, Spain, Austria, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Martin and China (some Jamaican-born Chinese have returned to China). "Jamaicans are everywhere," Mrs. Lee told The Sunday Gleaner.
Mr. Lee, who prior to becoming an author, had his own graphics and typesetting business, recalled the time when he harboured thoughts of journalism and was interviewed by the late Theodore Sealy. Plans changed and today the research, sales and production of the book totally occupy his time.
"I would love to see a really big celebration of the 150th anniversary here and hope many Chinese will come home for the event," he said.
The Lees hope the book will cement established relationships; bring back memories for families and show the relationships that exist through marriage and birth. Mr. Lee said during his research, he has met African descendants who also share blood ties with Chinese.
The current edition of the book is presented in two sections - the present and the past and covers topics like Jamaican Chinese surnames, family relations chart, excerpts from Chinese in Jamaica, glimpses of the past and more.
In the April/May 2002 edition of the Chinese Benevolent Association newsletter, Patrick Lee's article is titled "Early History of the Chinese Benevolent Society" (CBS), he writes: "The early Chinese were mostly from the poorer classes. In addition to their inability to speak English, the differences in culture and traditions further widened the gap between them and the native Jamaicans. Naturally, the Chinese stuck together. And the CBS was formed with its two main responsibilities being: (1) to be the main arbiter for settling disputes among the members and (2) to aid individuals with any kind of problems outside of community, such as business and immigration issues."
The CBS is now the Chinese Benevolent Association (CBA) at 176 Old Hope Road and will be the venue where Patrick and Lorraine Lee will today collect data from Jamaican Chinese for inclusion in the upcoming publication. They will be there from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. and welcome all Jamaica Chinese and their descendants.
