The Power of Determination

I commend this message and this book to parents looking for material that can inspire their children to strive onwards and upwards, as well as schools, social agencies and adults who need a gush of wind to refloat frustrated wings. The Most Hon. Edward Seaga Former Prime Minister of Jamaica.

From the dancehall to the altar, Stitchie reveals in this powerful book the source of the creative energy that has made him such an outstanding musical talent. It all comes from the power of determination. Starting with his experiences as a mischievous child growing up in Spanish Town, Stitchie tells us about the influential people who steered him in the right direction. First of all, he honors his mother for nurturing in him the foundation values of decency, honesty and discipline that have shaped his character. Stitchie also pays tribute to his many teachers, especially those at the Tivoli Gardens Comprehensive High, who helped him in many practical ways to stay in school and out of trouble. In this honest account of good friends and bad, Stitchie doesn’t hide the truth about the terrible wages of sin and crime. Bad company can lead well-intentioned youth to their death. But the power of determination can bring you back on track when temptation pushes you down the path of destruction. And there is quite a lot of humor in Stitchie’s story. He certainly knows how to tek bad things mek joke. This is a serious book that illustrates just how much each of us can accomplish when we set our mind to it and accept the power of divine guidance in our lives. Professor Carolyn Cooper.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Registered at birth as Cleve Aman Laing, but was born in the capital City of Kingston Jamaica. School and trained within the walls of the inner-city in such territories; born in Olympic Gardens, Live in Riverton City, moved to Water House, grow up in the first capital of Jamaica, Spanish Town and attended school in Tivoli Gardens. In the early 1980’s I arrived at Tivoli Gardens High School eager and earnest in my chosen occupation of teaching and there I met the author of this book as a final year student doing external examinations. At first he was unassuming going about task of completing assignments set for his up and coming G.C.E. Art Exam. During the practical class and some lunch break an engaging teacher/student relationship developed between Cleve and I, to the point where he referred to me as his older brother and mentor. Surprisingly we discovered that we were both born in the blessed month of September and enjoyed much the same things such as; a love for reading, sport, art and music. Cleve, though from a very poor and humble home in Spanish Town, was ambitious, concerned for his fellow students and generous with the little resources he had at his disposal. This was especially evident in the way he shared of his artistic talent and the materials he worked with which was sometime short in supply. After leaving school he went on to further his education at G.C.Foster College of Physical Education and Sport, where he qualified himself to become a Teacher like his mentor. A short stint at Tivoli Gardens High, his alma mater saw him leaving for a career in music as his musical escapade as a Song Writer, Singer, Producer and Reggae/ Dancehall Artiste took off as "Lt. Stitchie". He’s now the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of his own record label, Drum & Bass Music & Publishing Company Limited. As an ordained Pastor, he has become the first Gospel/Dancehall Artiste to have been given an Honorary Doctorate Degree, which was conferred upon him, by the Cornerstone Christian University, in Orlando, Florida. Through all this development and change, inclusive of a marriage and from the father of a child, to becoming the father of children, Cleve remained humble and caring for his family and close inner circle of friends. During all this development he cared for his mother making her as comfortable as possible before her passing. Cleve’s life was soon to take a complete change and transformation after an accident which nearly took his life. This change and transformation is now evident in a converted and reborn Cleve Laing now known to the world as "Stitchie" (New stage name) and his conversion to Christianity. It may surprise some people to know that "This Product" of the ghetto (Stitchie) would like the youngsters of the inner-city, whether the physical ghetto or the ghetto of the mind to know that patience and perseverance can be had by all who seek it; and one’s ultimate belief in the Creator is their ticket to rich, fulfilling and purposeful life.