Kool97fm Podcast - SoundSage

In 2025, Hope Markes became the first black woman and Caribbean national to be elected as President of the 110-year-old Kiwanis International. An accomplished Kiwanian, community builder, and proud Jamaican, she has spent decades building a legacy of leadership and service.Markes is a co-founder and charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Hopewell in Hanover. She previously served as Vice President of Kiwanis International from 2024 to 2025, after completing three years on the International Board of Trustees. Her leadership journey also includes serving as Governor of the Eastern Canada and Caribbean District during the 2013 to 2014 administrative year, guiding clubs across the region in service initiatives and membership growth.Markes’ dedication to children and community development has earned her numerous prestigious honours. These include the George F. Hixson Fellowship, the Walter Zeller Fellowship through the Kiwanis Children’s Fund and The Eliminate Project, the Mel Osborne Fellow award, Champion for Children recognition from the Kiwanis Foundation of Canada, and the Godfrey Dyer Medallion from the Kiwanis Foundation of Jamaica.Her impact is also being recognised across the Jamaican diaspora. The City of Lauderhill officially proclaimed January 8, 2026, as Hope Markes Day, honouring her decades of service and global influence.Through service, vision, and determination, Hope Markes continues to blaze a trail for Caribbean women, proving that leadership rooted in service can inspire change around the world.

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A prolific, award-winning poet, essayist and memoirist, Lorna Gaye Goodison made history in 2017 when she became Jamaica’s first female Poet Laureate. Through her work, she has memorialized Jamaican culture, womanhood, family life, and the enduring strength of the maternal figure. Her poem “I Am Becoming My Mother” remains one of her most cherished pieces, resonating with millions of readers across generations.Her awards are numerous, including the Commonwealth Poetry Prize; the Henry Russel Award and the Shirley Verret Award for Exceptional Creative Work (University of Michigan); the British Columbia National Award for Canadian Non-Fiction; and the Musgrave Gold Medal. In 2013, she was conferred with Jamaican National Honour, the Order of Distinction (Commander Class).Her influence extends far beyond our shores. Goodison’s writing has been studied in English and Literature courses worldwide. In 2019, she became the only Jamaican to receive the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry, honouring her remarkable body of work and international reputation.She is currently Professor Emerita at University of Michigan. From her first collection, Tamarind Season in 1980, to her celebrated memoir From Harvey River, Lorna Goodison has given us a legacy of language, memory, and identity, securing her place as a true pioneer of Caribbean literature.She is the eighth of nine children and sister of late journalist, author and playwright, Barbara Gloudon.

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In 1994, Wyvolyn Gager made history when she was appointed Editor-in-Chief of The Gleaner, becoming the first woman to hold the top editorial post in one of the Western Hemisphere’s oldest newspapers. At the time, the appointment marked a major breakthrough in a newsroom long dominated by men.A proud native of Trelawny, Wyvolyn began her secondary education at Westwood High School for Girls before transferring to Excelsior High School in Kingston. She later attended the University of the West Indies. Her professional life started as a pre-trained primary school teacher in Trelawny, but she soon transitioned into journalism at The Gleaner, joining the newsroom as one of the few female reporters at the time. She quickly built a reputation for her strong writing and her ability to develop sources and compelling news stories.Her talent and determination opened doors, when in 1983, she was promoted to News Editor, a remarkable accomplishment for a woman. She later rose to the position of Associate Editor before reaching the pinnacle of Jamaican journalism as Editor-in-Chief.Gager led The Gleaner Company Limited’s newsroom for six years, guiding the publication through a changing media landscape. In the process, she demonstrated that women can lead editorial content at the highest levels of journalism.In 2014, Wyvolyn Gager was awarded the Jamaican National Honour, Order of Distinction, Officer Class in recognition of her contribution to journalism. In retirement, her commitment to the profession continues. She serves as a volunteer adviser to the Press Association of Jamaica. She continues to serve as a judge on the PAJ’s annual National Journalism Awards Committee.Wyvolyn Gager’s legacy remains a powerful reminder that breaking barriers can create opportunities for generations to come.

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History was made in 2022 when, then Rear Admiral Antonette Weymss-Gorman was installed as the Jamaica Defence Force’s first female Chief of Defence Staff. At the time, she was the only female head of an armed force globally.But her groundbreaking journey began decades earlier. At just 19 years old, Wemyss-Gorman joined the Jamaica Defence Force, one of only two candidates selected from a pool of 34 applicants. During her basic training, there were no other female seafarers in the Coast Guard. Inspired by the strength of the women in her life, including her mother and grandmother, she became determined not only to succeed, but to change the face of the force for other women.In 1994, she was commissioned as the Jamaica Defence Force’s first seagoing female officer. Her steady rise through the ranks continued, and in 2002 she became Commanding Officer of Cutter Belmont Point, an 82-foot patrol boat, making history as the first woman to command a military vessel in the Caribbean. Wemyss-Gorman has also helped shape the region’s maritime future. She played a key role in establishing the Caribbean Military Maritime Training Centre, now the School of Maritime Studies, which began operations in 2012. She holds a Master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the University of the West Indies (Mona) With more than 30 years of distinguished service to the JDF; she has been honoured with numerous accolades, including the Order of Distinction (Commander Class), the Medal of Honour for Meritorious Service, the Military Commendation Medal and the Medal of Honour for General Service by the Government of Jamaica.A woman of many “firsts” Vice Admiral Antonette Wemyss-Gorman is an international trailblazer in military leadership. She recently announced the release of her first memoir, Life, Duty and Command, reflecting on her journey, leadership lessons, and decades of service.

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Nephew has officially named the Appleton Estate rum tour the Joy Spence Appleton Estate Rum Experience, in honour of her remarkable contributions to the company.Today, Joy Spence’s legacy continues through her ‘Foundation in Chemistry’ initiative, inspiring the next generation of young scientists across Jamaica.

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At the forefront stands Bishop Christine Gooden Benguche, the first female president of the Methodist Church in Jamaica. In 2018, she made history when she became the first woman to be ordained as bishop within the church, a landmark achievement that opened doors for women in ministry across the island and the wider Caribbean.Bishop Gooden Benguche’s impact extends far beyond the pulpit. A devoted educator, teaching has long been central to her ministry, and she has served in various capacities at schools throughout Jamaica. She has served as Chaplain for St. Andrew Prep School and Shortwood Teacher’s College in Kingston. With a lifetime dedicated to faith and service, Bishop Gooden-Benguche embodies courage, compassion, and pioneering leadership, a true inspiration for women everywhere.

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Power Thought for March 16th 2026 by Kool97fm

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Singles Live for March 5th 2026 by Kool97fm

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Christmas and Songs In Spanish 2025 by Kool97fm

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Singles Live for November 27th 2025 by Kool97fm

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A National Registry of Volunteers has been launched to coordinate support for Jamaicans affected by Hurricane Melissa. The registry, now available on the Support Jamaica portal, helps organize volunteer efforts across the island. Lend your support through food distribution, shelter operations, medical aid, cleanup, counselling, transportation, or admin support. Go to supportjamaica.gov.jm to register* A new Private Sector Coordination Committee has been formed to help strengthen national recovery efforts after Hurricane Melissa. The committee, is co-chaired by Ambassador the Hon. Audrey Marks and Senator Keith Duncan. The committee will help align private-sector contributions with the Government’s recovery plan. * And the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has delivered hundreds of relief items and over 30,000 food packages to Jamaicans affected by Hurricane Melissa. Efforts continue with the Ministry, working with the private sector and faith-based partners for a more targeted distribution plan.

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The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is informing the public that persons are not required to present identification (ID) or a Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) to collect hurricane relief packages. The official portal for Hurricane Relief effort in Jamaica is supportjamaica.gov.jm. The portal serves as a central hub for mobilising assistance, channeling relief, and connecting volunteers with those in need. It makes it easier for citizens, organisations, and international partners to support the island’s recovery. The Government of Jamaica is warning the public to be on high alert for fake websites posing as official Hurricane Melissa relief portals. Citizens are being reminded that all official government websites end with “ dot gov dot jm” and stressed that supportjamaica.gov.jm is the only legitimate platform for Hurricane Melissa relief contributions.

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Through the National Housing Trust homeowners can now access a home-improvement loan of up to J$3.5 million at a low interest rate of 2 percent. The NHT will also provide grants of up to J$500,000 for contributors facing significant damage. These grants will be awarded based on need and level of impact. The Government has extended the duty-free and GCT-free importation of Hurricane relief supplies until the end of December 2025. With this, shipments of relief supplies can reach Jamaicans without the added financial strain. Tax Administration Jamaica has extended the deadline for filing GCT, SCT, and others taxes for Jamaicans and businesses due on October 31. The new deadline is November 28, without penalty.

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Here’s how we’re rebuilding hope through donations:Emergency organisations and international governments are stepping up in big ways. * UNICEF has set aside US$1 million to help children and families in urgent need. The Red Cross has delivered 64 tons of relief items, from solar lamps and tarpaulins to shelter kits. The UK Government has pledged £2.5 million to assist the region’s recovery, and the World Bank has confirmed a major assistance package for Jamaica. A shipment of humanitarian and essential supplies has arrived, thanks to the European Union, France, the Netherlands and other partners. The relief cargo includes water purification equipment, 500 shelter tool kits, 1,000 tarpaulins, and other much needed supplies. Our Caribbean neighbours are also showing love, the Cayman Islands delivered 1,500 packages of supplies worth over US$200,000. And the Bahamas donated relief supplies and a monetary contribution of up to 2 million Bahamian Dollars.

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