01/06/2024
Today, Saturday June 1 marks 33 years since we opened the doors of Charlie’s Pharmacy in the heart of Downtown Kingston. June 1, 1991.
It was a Saturday like today.
Our sales for the day was a little over $4,000 and we were ecstatic!
There were so many items that we did not stock, but we wrote down every request and ordered them on Monday June 3.
My mom, dad and sister Carol (who was then a medical student) were there, along with Mrs Merine Blair and pharmacist Mrs Leslie-Ann Kelly who spent the entire day with us dispensing pro bono. I thank you all for your help which continues to this day.
This 1000 square foot facility, our family business, has shaped my path and my life.
Charlie’s is situated in the inner city, and the health needs there are somewhat different from other locations. I needed training in public health to respond effectively to these needs, hence my question to do a Masters Degree in Public Health, introduced to me by Mrs Margaret Wilson-Blake. I did not qualify as such (having a diploma in Pharmacy from CAST) but Prof Eldemire Shearer whom I had never met in my life, stood up and argued for me in that selection process (I was told this in later years by Dr Janet LaGrenade of blessed memory).
My mom Enid, sacrificed her time for that entire year to manage Charlie’s Pharmacy for me. God bless my Mommy for all the sacrifices. Jah know!
SMH.
In the last week of my 1-year Masters (August 1996) we toured Jamaica AIDS Support facility. Many of the patients were cachectic.
And my love affair with HIV/AIDS began.
The stone that the builders “refused”, returned to the Department at UHWI, in 1997 to tutor in Biostatistics.
I started my HIV/AIDS ministry and applied to London to pursue the PhD in 2001.
The rest is history.
But ……. the team …….the janitors, the sales personnel, the cashiers, the dispensary personnel, the pharmacists - all who have given love to this place we call home - they were and are the back-bone of this ministry. Thank you all.
To every single pharmacist who has stepped in and served our valued clients, for 14 years, 10 years, 5 years or just a day, I thank you. From the bottom of my heart. You have stood in the gap for me.
Thanks to the thousands of customers throughout the 33 years who have honoured us by using our goods and services. Obviously you’re the reason why we sing.
The people of Downtown, Kingston have embraced us and we too have embraced them equally.
God is good!
My husband Gary has joined the team of strong supporters, for which I am grateful.
My 3 Pharmacist Friends in Business, including Dr Shereen Cox, have been very supportive too. Thank you.
We continue our mission and our ministry in this humble space, and we remember and honour Charlie, my dad, who wanted more for his children than he had throughout his lifetime.
Charlie’s Pharmacy was the furthest thing from my mind. Mrs Kelly and I wanted to do “hair”. But Charlie’s Pharmacy was my dad’s brainchild.
The stories of “all of it” are many, many, many and mindblowing. We continue to write it to this moment!
Let’s go. The people are waiting.
