Having to leave Jamaica during his early teen years, returning resident Aubrey Mason is now spending his retirement in voluntary activities to rebuild the social aspects in his boyhood community in Portland.
Mason, who left the island at age 14 years, was sponsored by an uncle who paid his airfare to Manchester, England, to take up residence with his mother, who was struggling to cope and support his other three siblings.
“I attended secondary school for one year in England,” Mason noted, adding: “After high school, I did apprenticeship at British Motor Corporation for five years, where I went through the ranks. I eventually became a training officer with that corporation, which sadly exposed me to racism and verbal abuse. I was not affected negatively at the workplace, as I was recognized as most brilliant and competent training officer. I spent 14 years in that field, and then it was time to move on.”
Mason, who was born in Fair Prospect in 1949, left Jamaica for England in 1964; two years after the country of his birth cut ties with its colonial masters and gained its own independence. It was severe financial challenges, on the part of his mother, which led to Mason to enter the working world at a young age.
But after quitting his job with the British Motor Corporation, Mason upgraded himself academically and shortly after he entered the government service, where he was employed as a careers officer. He would spend 24 years in the government system, retiring in 2009 as a careers officer supervisor, but with the urge to return to Jamaica.
“I had never given up on Jamaica, and I was basically hungry to return home,” he said. “Since returning to Jamaica, I became engaged in community work. My only disappointment is that not much has changed in my community of Fair Prospect since I left for England in 1964. And as such I have been deeply involved in rebuilding my community. So far I have assisted with getting a post office in the community, and I am fully focusing on getting funding for the construction of two classrooms at Fair Prospect Primary.”
Now the president of the Priest-man’s River Benevolent Society, Mason is busy trying to secure funding for the construction of a community centre in that district. The returning resident is also actively involved with the Parish Development Committee, and remains adamant that the best move for him was to return home, so as to assist with the growth and development of the youth in his community.
