‘He can get the job done’

His family, teachers, and alma mater Charlemont High School are celebrating the fulfilment of a promise – Dr Kevin Blake, the punctual boy who excelled in agriculture and information technology, becoming the head of Jamaica’s 156-year-old police force.

“He was a bright boy,” shared Harris Scott, who retired in 2015, after 30 years teaching history, geography, and social studies.

Blake, 52, who graduated in stormy 1988 from the St Catherine-based institution, was one of his students.

“He was one of those guys who actually questioned you. He was very investigative. So in all of that, I expected him to be one of those stand-out students. When I heard that he was in the force, I said ‘Yes, man! He will go places’,” the 69-year-old educator shared with The Sunday Gleaner on Friday.

On Wednesday, Minister of National Security Dr Horace Chang announced that Blake will be Jamaica’s new commissioner of police. He will assume the post on March 19, a day after the expiration of outgoing commissioner Major General Antony Anderson’s contract.

Being police commissioner in Jamaica, a country with one of the highest murder rates in the world, is arguably one of the toughest public jobs, made even more difficult with the pressure that comes from political administrations in search of results to stave off public wrath.

Despite major investments in technology to enhance efficiency, a reported clear-up rate of 60 per cent; renovations of police stations, and nabbing of major gangsters, the force struggles to get the trust of Jamaicans. A 2022 RJRGLEANER Communications Group-commissioned Don Anderson poll revealed that 94 per cent of Jamaicans have little or no confidence in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

But Blake, his former teacher believes, can make a difference and “can get, and will get, the job done”.

Scott anchors his belief, which he is hoping the public will share, on Blake’s character development in his formative years. It’s as simple as being punctual, he argued.

“You could see him in the mornings really hustling to come to your class,” said Scott, adding, “I always tell them I’m supposed to be the last person going through my class door.”

The retired teacher noted that Charlemont, which marks 46 years of existence, “has always been a disciplined school”, the driving force behind the institution’s embrace and nurturing of young minds for national and global impact.

“Charlemont, it’s sort of in an area where the only thing that molests you is the bauxite train,” he said of the school set in the rural town of Linstead, just 18 miles from Spanish Town – the old Jamaican capital, now the chief town of the parish of St Catherine.

“There was nothing to prevent you from learning. And we have excellent teachers – persons who actually push you, find out your goals, what you would like to become, and help you,” Scott said, pointing out that Charlemont can now boast that two of its past students hold senior positions in Jamaica’s national security architecture – Dr Blake, the incoming commissioner of police, and Assistant Commissioner Donovan Graham, a forerunner to Blake at Charlemont.

‘VERY GOOD

LEADERSHIP QUALITIES’

Maurice Yvonne Sullivan did not teach Dr Blake but her 42 years at Charlemont meant that she had eyes on the young man’s entrance to the school from Jericho Primary to his departure as a school prefect and advocate as a student councillor and a member of the cadet corps.

“When I heard his name come up as candidate for interviews [for police commissioner], I was very elated,” beamed the 65-year-old who retired from Charlemont last year as vice-principal of student affairs.

“One of the main reasons is because from back then, we realised that he had very good, very good leadership qualities. So I wasn’t surprised.”

Sullivan taught food and nutrition, clothing and textile, and home economics management. While Blake did not number among her students, “I tend to know if not all, most of the students,” she said, noting positions she held such as grade supervisor and department head.

“He was outstanding. He was one of those students in those days where teachers realised that this guy will achieve much once he remains focused. And for his years at Charlemont, he was the same person – he remained focused, there was no change. He was one of those very outstanding male students, just like Donovan Graham,” Sullivan declared.

She recalled the young Blake relating well with his teachers and classmates, an interpersonal attribute she said earned him the various student positions he held at the institution.

There was an additional recall.

“He was always neatly dressed. Like a true officer,” the former educator said, laughing. “I can’t recall seeing Kevin coming to school late at any time. All of these qualities about him kept coming back since I heard of his nomination and later now being the person who gets that high post.”

‘STANDOUT

AGRICULTURAL STUDENT’

Charlemont High is now considering ways to honour Dr Blake for achieving one of the highest positions in public service and for doing so in the year the institution marks its 46th anniversary.

“We are exceedingly proud of his achievement,” Principal Garth Gayle told The Sunday Gleaner. “Dr Blake would have shown what the motto of the school speaks to - ‘striving for excellence’. And I think that would have been the hallmark of his tenure thus far with the national security force via the Jamaica Constabulary Force.”

In short order, Gayle said, “We’ll be celebrating Founder’s Day at the school, and he’s going to be one of those who we will speak highly and fondly of. It is a great achievement for the institution.”

Blake excelled in various subjects, including information technology, an area that has defined his post-secondary career and which is key to the transformation of the JCF. But his legacy in agriculture continues to give life to the aesthetics of Charlemont.

“He was a standout agricultural student,” said Gayle, who explained that Blake was part of a group of students who planted most of the coconut trees that now decorate the school’s compound.

‘BEATING HEART

OF FAMILY GATHERINGS’

Dr Kevin Blake was born in Kingston but spent a significant portion of his early life in Olympic Gardens, St Andrew, before moving to Portmore, St Catherine. His parents, Vernal and Merle Blake, have passed.

He is part of a “large family” but “grew up surrounded by love and laughter, with him being a primary source in producing the latter. … Dr Blake is the beating heart of family gatherings where his wit and sense of humour guarantee that the family will be left with a bellyful of laughter,” noted a statement from his family to The Sunday Gleaner.

“This appointment to commissioner represents the culmination of his hard work, dedication, faith, sacrifice, and tenacity,” the family said, adding strength to an earlier declaration from teacher Sullivan that from a young age, Blake was “in love with school”.

“He never wanted to miss school, no matter what the circumstance, and this attitude continued straight into adulthood … . He was the first of his parents’ children to attain a doctoral degree, and this made his mother and family immensely proud,” said Blake’s family.

His family describes him as exhibiting “immeasurable kindness” and an individual who shows “great care and compassion for others, which is also demonstrated through his philanthropy. For example, a young lady who is now a nurse overseas, is unaware that the person who contributed financially each month to her schooling was Dr Blake. Through a relative’s church community, monthly contributions were sent to assist young students, and this was done with no fanfare or pomp.”

‘JAMAICA WILL

BE BETTER OFF’

After Charlemont High, Dr Blake pursued studies at The Mico University College, a teacher-training institution, but cut short his time there. He later obtained three degrees from The University of the West Indies, Mona – a bachelor’s in computer science and mathematics, a master of science in computer-based management information systems, and ultimately, a PhD (high commendation) in sustainable development.

Blake worked with the National Commercial Bank and Decision Support System, a software development company, before joining the JCF on a special-entry programme in 2002 as an assistant superintendent.

He rose up the ranks to become assistant commissioner of police in 2013, and in June 2020, deputy commissioner.

He has held command of various JCF divisions, including the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch, the Planning Research and Development Branch, the National Intelligence Bureau, and Areas 3 and 4.

He was head of the JCF’s development and logistics portfolio before being appointed to commissioner.

On Tuesday, Dr Blake will assume the leadership of a force of over 11,000 persons serving a country of almost three million.

“He is disciplined, sharp, and focused. There should be no doubt that he will give of his best and Jamaica will be better off,” said Scott of his former charge.

jovan.johnson@gleanerjm.com