Wrongful Dismissal

Chapter 5

September 26, 2013 the University of Jamaica decided to put on a Memorial for Ceyon Montcliffe. Mason was sure to attend that. So much information gathering could be had.

As he walked into the Sybil Randle Hall at one p.m. at the university, there was music playing. He was handed a program for the proceedings and noticed that it was a piece of paper, eight and a half by fourteen, folded into itself to make three sections.

Interesting.

Someone announced that the Sure Band was playing. The music was good and somewhat up beat. Certainly the way that Ceyon would have wanted it.

None of the faculty, staff or students wanted the body to be at the Memorial. They were afraid of 'duppy' of all things. Imagine in this modern day, highly educated people still held on to a superstitious belief in a malevolent spirit or ghost. This idea was from West African origin but still believed in Jamaica. Mason could not understand it. Yes, he understood that uneducated, backward people of Africa believed it but surely not intelligent people of Jamaica who were part of a second world country and so close to the United States in their thinking. They have an expression in Jamaica, "If the United States sneezes, Jamaica gets the cold."

Moderator, none other than the President Marie Nicholson in the limelight. As cold as stone. No emotion. What a strong woman. Admirable?

"Ceyon Montcliffe died tragically on September 6th, 2013. The police are doing everything in their power to find the perpetrators of this HEINOUS crime."

Very dramatically she said, "2013 is, 'annus horribilis', a year of disaster and misfortune for this school....."

She put too much emphasis on the word "heinous" for Mason's liking.

She looked bored, like she would rather be anywhere but there. She droned on and on then finally announced the hymn, prayer and reading of a scripture.

Then the school choir came in and sang a song called, 'In this Room', not a dry eye in the audience. Someone mentioned that he choreographed the songs for the choir. Oh yes, Ceyon's mother had told Mason that the other day. Another 'extracurricular' achievement on his part. Not necessary for him to have done these things. He was admirable. He did for others more than himself. He wanted the school to have a good reputation to prosper and profit. None of that was mentioned at the memorial.

One of his previous student said, "Mr. Montcliffe said in this very room, 'I don't want to see any lady with the colors of the Jamaican flag braided into her hair as she is representing this school. We at the University of Jamaica are respected by Jamaica and represent Jamaica to the rest of the world and we should always carry ourselves that way and be presentable.'"

Another student said, "We had to make uniforms especially for his class. He was so particular about how we looked in his class. We were afraid to wear something that was substandard. The uniforms had to be modest. Skirts well below the knee. The males had to wear their pants pulled up and shirts tucked in properly."

Everyone in the audience laughed at the truth of that statement.

More tributes, then a choir from Waritch Primary School. Little girls, eight years old. Sang a song to Ceyon. It was very touching. Not a dry eye in the whole place but for a few. Mason took note of those.

Their teacher played a bongo drum to the beat. Very African, very poignant, very emotional. A real Jamaican folk song but terribly serious and sad.

It's not the first, nor the last now

So many people a pass a pass out

And how we cope is such a task now