Portia dreams: a book on Mama P’s childhood years

We have all come to know her in adult years as ‘Sister P’ or ‘Mama P’, but did you know that as a child, her pet name was ‘Miss Ted’? And how many of us know that as a child, Portia was a constant dreamer, so much so she would be teased by her siblings: what did you dream last night Miss Ted?

These are some of the gems unearthed in the just-published authorised biography Portia Dreams of the childhood and early growing up years in Woodhall, St Catherine, of the former prime minister, Portia Simpson Miller. Publication of the book by the Portia Simpson Miller Foundation coincides with her birthday anniversary on Sunday, December 12.

Authored by Prof Opal Palmer Adisa, former director of the Institute of Gender and Development Studies, The University of the West Indies, the 56-page book with beautiful illustrations for young primary readers describes the young Portia as a curious child who noticed everything around her and was a constant dreamer. But according to Prof Adisa, in a real way and significantly so, “the signs of her formidable political and public life may well have come from those early years as the young Portia was not only a dreamer, but as an early teenager began taking notes at community meetings held at her parents’ home as well as going to political meets with them”.

“What we have in Portia Dreams is a motivational story which Jamaican children, particularly those from humble, rural circumstances can relate to in that it does not matter the circumstances from which you come, you can achieve your dreams,” Prof Adisa added.

And in welcoming the book, Mrs Simpson Miller said that as a young girl growing up in deep rural Woodhall, “I had many dreams, too, some of which served to encourage me in my life’s journey. I hope that as our children read this account of my dreams and childhood experiences, they too will be inspired to dream big and always strive to achieve their dreams,” Simpson Miller said.

Portia Dreams is one of the outputs from the residency of the former prime minister as a UWI Distinguished Fellow attached to the university’s Institute of Gender and Development Studies. Copies of the book are available through the foundation and leading book retail stores.