BEYOND BASIC NEEDS
ALLMOND BELNAVIS GETS HIS WISH
The air at the St Ann Drop-in Centre and Night Shelter now carries a different kind of rhythm, one shaped by the gentle strum of strings and the familiar warmth of songs played by Mr. Allmond Belnavis, a resident of the facility who can now fill the space with music and melodies made possible by a brand-new guitar gifted to him by Hon. Desmond McKenzie on Tuesday (April 7, 2026).
It was during a visit to the centre earlier this year that the Minister first encountered Belnavis, seated quietly beneath a tree on the property. What began as a simple conversation soon unfolded into an impromptu performance, as Belnavis, cradling a worn and weathered guitar and delivered a heartfelt rendition of Bob Marley’s ‘Three Little Birds’. Moved by his talent, Minister McKenzie made a commitment to replace the battered instrument with a new one, but there was just one request in return: that Belnavis trade sleeping outside of the facility for the safety of the night shelter. He agreed.
“I am back today to present him with this guitar because this is not just a building, a structure that they sleep and they medical care, they get something to eat, this is all about allowing them to remain focus and to continue to do the things that they would normally do on a daily basis,” Minister McKenzie said.
The Minister, who also has a good ear and passion for music added, “The posture of the government is not just to give the facilities but to ensure that their stay is comfortable and that we are able to meet their demands… I can just imagine 20 years ago, he was a bad guitar player, probably [he] used to sing and play at some of the hotels but because of certain conditions he can no longer ply his trade, but we don’t want to take away that love from him”.
For her part, Chief Executive Officer of the St Ann Municipal Corporation, Mrs. Jennifer Brown Cunningham, supported the initiative affirming that the facility is more than just a building, but also an opportunity for users of the service to pursue their passions.
“The talent still remains with him, so these are the opportunities we will take to ensure that the users of the facilities get the opportunities to continue to be citizens who contribute and they too, in the being able to contribute will fulfil their own life,” she said.
Meanwhile, a visibly content Belnavis serenaded the team with several songs such as Bob Marley’s ‘One Love’ anda rendition of the ‘Summertime and the living is easy’ by Sam Cooke, while playing his new guitar, according to him, he has been playing the instrument since the age of 14.