Left: Maxine and her three-year-old son. Right: Audrey Marks and her 11-year-old daughter Morgan aboard Air Jamaica flight JM0041 on Sunday. - Photos by Andrew Wildes

WASHINGTON, DC:

Audrey Marks, Paymaster chief executive, who travelled Sunday to the United States capital to view today's historic inauguration of Barack Obama as president, says she hopes it will be a source of inspiration for her daughter.

"It's really for her - it's her occasion," said Marks.

Marks noted that despite her hectic business schedule and the unfavourable weather conditions in Washington, she and her daughter could not miss the memorable event.

"I wanted to take Morgan. It is amazing that this is happening in my lifetime, but it's going to be even more important for her to experience this," said Marks, who is also president of the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica.

"I think it's something she's going to remember for the rest of her life," she said of her 11-year-old daughter.

Another local aboard Air Jamaica flight JM0041 from Kingston to Baltimore was a woman who gave her name only as Maxine. In tow was her three-year-old son, who will brave temperatures between 23 and 33F at the swearing-in, in DC.

Motivation

Maxine said she hopes Obama's inauguration will motivate her son and other black children worldwide to chase their dreams.

"You know what? Later on inna life when my son seh him waan become the president of the United States, at least this time when me look pon him - before me woulda say 'yeah, man' - but at least this time when me say it me can mean it from the bottom of mi heart that him can do it," she said.

"So Obama represents a lot for black people, not just black people but black young men," Maxine added.

andrew.wildes@gleanerjm.com