Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Bertie 'Ras Mandito' Johnson. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

On Thursday, August 23, the Jamaica Association of Vintage Artistes and Affiliates (JAVAA) would have donated a wheelchair to a physically challenged young man at its regular Thursday family gathering, held weekly at its Oakton Park, Half-Way Tree headquarters.

That was, however, before Hurricane Dean decided to disable, if only temporarily, a significant part of Jamaica.

However, Bertie 'Ras Mandito' Johnson of JAVAA said that the donation, which is part of approximately 35 such donations done in conjunction with the Kiwanis Club of Central St. Andrew, will still take place.

"Most of them have been presented already and we have a few persons to collect," Mandito said. "He (the person to whom this donation will be made) came to our first handing over and he went home quite disappointed."

That was about three weeks ago and Johnson said that this effort is being made "because of this special situation". The recipient is about 13 years old.

Fortunately, with many donations already made, one that remained was the correct size.

Making links

The collaboration between JAVAA and Kiwanis came through the vintage music organisation's executive secretary, Elaine Peart, whom Johnson said is also a distinguished past president of the Central St. Andrew Kiwanis. "It was a matter of making links with agencies overseas," Johnson said. "Kiwanis started the project, Ms. Peart got JAVAA involved."

Key to the project was identifying the people who were to receive the wheelchairs and Johnson said "what we did was get lists of people who were in need. We got all of their names on a master list with certain specifications and we sent them abroad to see who could match which specification."

It is not JAVAA's first foray off the musical stage into charity work, but Johnson says this is the first major project. "A few years ago we got involved with the Walker's Place of Safety and we had a treat and donated some toys and so on," Johnson said. "We wanted it to be a long-standing relationship, but we could not follow through (last year) because of financial constraints."

In addition, Johnson said, "we also intend to go into schools and teach music and the history of the music."

Formed in 2003, JAVAA is dedicated to preserving recorded Jamaican music of earlier years and also ensure the welfare of the performers as much as possible.