VERNON DERBY…A LIFETIME OF FIERCE, FEARLESS ADVOCACY FOR THE VOICELESS

 

Vernon L. Derby

There is a saying that if you love and enjoy the work you do, then you will feel like you have never worked one day in your life. (Confucius) When the work you do gets your adrenalin flowing every day, you look forward with renewed energy and enthusiasm to meet that new day. 

For most of his life, broadcast journalist, advocate, commentator, political advisor, actor, emcee, youth counsellor and (though not formally trained), social worker, Vernon Derby, confirms he has never worked one day in his life.” The joy I get in putting together my radio programmes, the people I meet, and the challenges I solve for the thousands of Jamaicans each day, are what keeps me going every day: So, his days require more than 24 hours to meet the growing demands of his millions of listeners at home and throughout the diaspora.

Vernon Derby is this year celebrating 15 years behind the mic, most of which were spent at Nationwide News Network (NNN) and now Riddim FM. Riddim FM is the sister company to Mello FM. It is part of the Cornwall Broadcasting Company media network whose listenership is slowly growing in numbers and popularity, challenging other well-established radio stations which have been in existence, some even before independence. 

While at NNN, Derby hosted a programme called ‘At your service’ where callers would reach out to him for assistance, they never received through direct approaches to utility companies and government agencies. Before his years in radio, Derby worked for the national airline, Air Jamaica as an account assistant, customer service agent, management trainee, manager for reservations control and programmer analyst. While still at Air Jamaica, Derby received training in theatre and media by the late Wycliffe Bennett, General Manager of the now defunct Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation, playwright Trevor Rhone and internationally acclaimed writer Yvonne Jones-Brewster. They taught him how to use his talent of ‘talking, singing, acting, and thinking outside the box, to create new and innovative approaches to solving many of the social, economic and political challenges which face Jamaicans’.

Following his years with Air Jamaica, Derby took over the leadership of the international youth organization, The Duke of Edinburgh Award programme which now operates in 144 countries, and which challenges young people to dream big so they can make a difference in the world. Many of those young people are now the movers and shakers in today’s corporate world.

His years on radio also saw him creating a number of firsts. Derby was a trailblazer in providing first-hand information on immigration challenges by having a special slot for representatives of the US Embassy, speaking directly to listeners with immigration queries. He was the first to bring Members of Parliament to the public to give constituents an account of their performance; the first radio presenter to develop and submit crime-solving strategies to the government; the first to advocate for a cashless transportation system; the first to advocate for a National identification system which he is convinced will help to control crime and the first to provide a radio slot for the often overlooked market vendors, farmers and persons in the agricultural sector.  His innovative and investigative approach to broadcasting saw him being sought after by the BBC, two years ago to report on a matter involving a British/Jamaican 

Derby has become such an outspoken advocate for consumer affairs, that he was elected as a Board member of the Consumer Affairs Commission. His call-in lines are oftentimes clogged with consumers complaining about the services they do not receive for road repairs, electricity, telephone, and water challenges,

“My inbox and call-in numbers, my What’s App and other Social Media platforms, are bombarded daily with complaints and requests for help with these recurring issues. And I am happy, to always assist. In the past, I received over five thousand complaints annually from across the island and overseas”.

Last year was an exciting year for Derby. Through his programme SpotOn on Riddim FM, he obtained J$2.5 million in scholarship funds for four university students. He also used his popular blog Bark di Trute to successfully appeal to persons to donate a kidney for Christopher Seaga, the son of the late former Prime Minister, Edward Seaga and Mitsy Seaga. He also joined a team headed by SSP McGregor and toured several troubled spots in Kingston while doing his radio programme.

He admits that over the years he has been moulded into one of the most rounded communicators on radio today. He is spot-on with ideas and solutions which he readily shares with many of the political connections he continues to interact with from both sides of the fence.

Written by Lois Grant

Editor's Note:

Ms Lois Grant - JP, MA, BA.(Hons) Dip Mass Comm, Cert. Broadcast Journalism BBC-London. Lois Grant's involvement in the communications and creative industry began in the newsroom at the now-defunct Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC). She then went on to head the Public Relations unit, at the now-defunct Grimax Advertising. From there, Grant went into partnership with the creation of the Promotions/Production agency.. Innercity Promotions. Innercity was responsible for the creation of the live dance hall series of concerts at the Harbour View and New Kingston Drive-in cinemas... the firsts in the history of entertainment in Jamaica. At the start of the '90s, Grant formed her own agency under the banner, Corporate Image Communications and Productions. She stood out as a trailblazer in developing several innovative events as well as programmes for corporate brands such as Tastee Limited, Jamaica National Building Society, City of Kingston Cooperative Credit Union, and various government agencies. Looking back Grant notes that she has played her role in changing the political landscape of three Caribbean islands, including Jamaica. Her last assignment before taking early retirement saw her as the Director of Communications in the Office of the Prime Minister of Jamaica from 2007 - early 2013.

Thanks to all those who sent me Happy Father's Day messages, and thanks to Lois for this article. I must admit that I am not used to this kind of attention. I am happy to be able to post this on fathers Day. Although this is a very sad day for me all of this has lifted my spirit. Happy Father's Day to all Fathers.