As a woman who intends to leave Jamaica in a way better condition than she found it, Janet Silvera works hard at selling and promoting the infinite merits of Brand Jamaica. Blessed to be in the business for over thirty plus years, her dynamism is ever evolving and now she has even taken on digital platforms to share her talent and that of her fellow Jamaicans in a manner that is both compassionate and compelling. It is just who she is.; a simple girl from Melbourne Avenue who decided from early that there would be no limit to her talent and no boundary that could stop her from being the very best version of herself whether in her personal or professional life.
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From early on, her life has been a series of transitions and transformations with multiple career leaps and mergers, entrepreneurial opportunities and philanthropic breakthroughs. It takes a lot to keep up with her and all of her activities as she is ever evolving and expanding her brand with her latest initiative being a web platform series that was launched on April 13 called ‘Westside JA’. Through this outlet, she shares stories of the people of Western Jamaica. “Ideally what we aim to do is talk about their achievements and how it can help you to be successful. While some young people are into scamming, people need to know that there are other young people doing exceptional work and are not involved in any corrupt or criminal activities. We also want to highlight those unsung heroes in poorer communities who are not only surviving but thriving and making the best of their lives.”
Making the best of one’s life is exactly what Janet Therese Silvera has been good at. Growing up along Salt Spring Road in Montego Bay, there were not a lot of positive things or positive role models around, with poverty being the common denominator in the lives of the people in the community. Living conditions were far from ideal as pit latrines were common and roaches and rodents were almost like pets that you got used to over time. Indeed, her formative years were filled with economic punches that she and her family simply learnt how to roll with.
Two things they were not short of however, were love and laughter. “My mother was a housewife and she had seven of us, six girls and one boy. Two of my sisters looked so much alike that if you vex with one, you might accidentally lick the wrong one. My father who was my stepfather was a plumber and he was the best. That man loved me and treated me so good; he made me feel like a queen.
There were many nights that we went to bed hungry, but my father was one of those men who felt that his children should not go without food, so when he could, he bought Jolly Rogers’ Chicken and would put it over our noses while we were asleep. The aroma would wake us up and we would eat and go back to bed. He would also walk to work early in the mornings, just so we could have fare to get to school. I am the wash belly but the oldest in terms of being the most reliable and responsible. We never had a TV and one day I went to a neighbour’s house to watch their TV and they slammed the door in my face. I never walked to watch TV again. I started to read books. I would see billboards and signs and I would write off everything I saw on my legs. I guess, I was born to be a writer.”