When country reggae recording artiste Wesrok realized that his hometown community of Swamp Lane in Bog Walk, St Catherine was feeling the economic pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, he stepped up to make a difference.
Wesrok donated tablets and school supplies to the Bibleway Basic School in Swamp Lane to help ease the various challenges wrought by the global pandemic.
"I wanted to help residents feeling the economic pressures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. I am just thankful that I could have provided some relief for struggling families, especially parents who have kids they have to send back to school soon," the artiste whose real name is Percival Buddan said.
Wesrok grew up in crippling rural poverty so he is familiar with the challenges in the community.
"I lived in poverty for years so being able to give back to my home town is always an amazing feeling," Wesrok said.
He personally handed out over 30 care packages that includes tablets, school bags, books, pens, pencils and of course, masks, essential in the COVID-19 era.
He has also adopted the Bible Way Basic school which caters to 30 students ages three to six years old. He has vowed to assist with a perennially leaking roof, and to provide perimeter fencing for the community school.
"I have set up a Wesrok Community Relief Foundation to assist the social needs of the community which has no recreational area or space for the residents. So I have empowered residents to mobilize a team of people to clear a portion of land to set up a recreation centre," he said.
Wesrok is no stranger to charitable donations as he received the Prime Minister's Award for Community Development in 2013 and still maintains his charity work.
Wesrok is destined to make his mark in the music industry and utilize his uncanny ability to paint narratives that depict rural Jamaica.
He made his debut with 'Looking Back' in June, which he self-produced on his 360 Global Entertainment imprint. The song is available on all digital platforms including iTunes, Spotify and Amazon. Looking Back has an accompanying video.
The singer has released a gospel single dubbed 'Do You Love My Jesus' and a Christmas single titled 'I Want to Go Home for Christmas' for the season.
"This song celebrates family and unity during Christmas because no matter what the circumstances are, we all need to embrace the place where we consider to be home this festive season," he said.
Jamaicans are concerned about this year's Christmas celebrations as they will be subjected to a 7pm to 5am curfew on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day as the Government takes steps to prevent a rise in COVID-19 infections during the holiday period. The COVID-19 pandemic has infected more than 12,000 Jamaicans while killing some 280 since March.
"We just have to be festive while staying safe in masks, observing the protocols and practising social distancing over the holiday season," Wesrok said.
The Dinthill High School past student is a former superintendent of police in the Jamaica Constabulary Force. He holds a masters degree in national security and strategic studies from The University of The West Indies and an MBA from Northern Caribbean University.