2008 – Most Memorable Jamaican

[Historian]

Thinking back, for me the Most Memorable Jamaicans for the year 2008 were our young athletes at the Beijing Olympic Games.

I’m an adult male who is supposedly in control of his emotions. However, day after day the performances of Usain Bolt, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Melaine Walker, Kerron Stewart, Sherone Simpson, Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter, and Michael Frater brought tears of pride to my eyes. Literally!

So, for me the most memorable Jamaicans for the period January 1 - December 31, 2008 are the nine individuals listed above. I will never ever forget them and the joy and national pride that they brought out in me for two weeks in August!

[Historian]

Re: 2008 - Most Memorable Jamaican

Coming a very close second behind the Beijing Olympic Games medallists is Dhaima Brookes, who singlehandedly reminded us all that there are world-class human beings in our country. This lady represents all that is good, decent and morally right among in Jamaican citizens, and she is to be applauded!

Women return $1m - Cash found handed to Portmore police
Published: Monday | December 29, 2008

Tendai Franklyn-Brown, Staff Reporter



Michelle Lewis (left) and Dhaima Brookes exit the Waterford Police Station in Portmore, St Catherine, yesterday after handing over $1 million, while a Guardsman armoured van waits to collect the money. Lewis, a policewoman attached to the Elletson Road Police Station in Kingston, escorted Brookes with the money to the police station after Brookes stumbled upon the cash at an ATM in Portmore Mall. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer


Fate sought to tempt legal secretary Dhaima Brookes when she stumbled upon $1 million in an ATM in the Portmore Mall, St Catherine, yesterday. Undeterred by any possible temptation to walk away with the find, Brookes displayed an act of goodwill, which angered many when she handed the money over to the authorities.

Brookes was cursed by persons at the mall who witnessed the discovery after she stumbled on the 10 stacks of $1,000 bills neatly packaged in a white plastic bag.

Card not working
Speaking with The Gleaner after making her statement to the Waterford police in Portmore, she recounted how she attempted to draw cash from one of the two ATMs at the plaza. The other machine was being serviced by two Guardsman armoured security personnel.

"My card wasn't working, so I let someone go ahead of me when I noticed a white bag was on the floor in the other ATM," she said.

After deliberating her next move, Brookes alerted the woman who was in the other ATM. She did not realise, however, that the woman, Michelle Lewis, was a policewoman attached to the Elletson Road Police Station in Kingston.

"I knew whoever we gave the money to I would need to have all of their details," Lewis said. "So I held the package tight to my bosom. I wouldn't give it to anyone but the Supe (superintendent)."

Rushed out
Brookes chipped in that a man shouted out, "You've found some money, jook out her eye!" alerting shoppers in the mall. Fearful of what would happen next, she rushed out of the mall with Lewis and the money in a black carrier bag.

Lewis and Brookes both maintained that they did the right thing despite persons taunting them about handing over the significant cash find.

"I think honesty is the best policy and I feel very comfortable with my decision, but I don't want anyone to lose his or her job," Lewis said.
"It was the right thing to do," Brookes added.

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