Clarence 'Ben' Brodie (right) shares a joke with president of the Patrick City Senior Citizens' Club, Rufa Archer (centre), and Linval Ford, public relations officer for the club, during a Christmas treat held in the community recently. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

With the holidays drawing closer, residents of Patrick City celebrated the true meaning of the season recently, in caring for each other as the senior citizens' club hosted its annual Christmas dinner at the community centre on Beatrice Close, in St. Andrew.

The residents were praised for their community spirit by veteran journalist, 2006 Musgrave medal recipient and guest speaker, Clarence 'Ben' Brodie.

"You are the fibre and cement that keeps the Jamaican society together," Mr. Brodie told those in attendance.

He continued, focusing on the hot topic of the day, the country's spiralling crime rate. He noted that Jamaica did not manufacture guns, so until there was a policy that focused on stopping the guns from getting into the island, all other policies would fail.

"It cannot be done by the police or security forces alone, it needs everyone and, until there is a coordinated policy that involves the communities, we are only spinning around."

Mr. Brodie told the Patrick City residents that they had a special role to play (as do all communities). He told them that they should ensure that they have their neighbours' telephone numbers and, if they see anything suspicious, should contact the police.

"Be on your guard and look out for each other," he said.

Bond with the youth

Mr. Brodie also encouraged residents to "develop closer relationships with the young people" and to "exchange ideas and find out what they are thinking and (what are) their problems".

He told the residents that, when approached properly, the youths would actually listen, as, despite assumptions to the contrary, most of them did not have someone to guide them.

With singing, greetings and good wishes all around, the citizens hoped they could be a model community as they enjoyed all that the season had to offer.