THE GLEANER, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025 | www.jamaica-gleaner.com | A4AC4 Tribute to MR SING SLUN CHIN, CD SING SLUN Chin was born the third of four children in Tai San, Canton, China on August 22, 1947, to Arthur George and Sem Kun Chin. He had an older sister Gloria (Moy), an older brother Sing Fong, and a younger brother Aston. Dad immigrated to Kingston, Jamaica, at the age of four with his mother and older brother Fong on a ship from Hong Kong. This trip took a few weeks across the Paci c and foreshadowed a life that was never easy yet culminated in success due to hard work, persistence and a drive that, to this day, I am and always will be, in awe of. Dad grew up the son of a shopkeeper which never left him with much free time outside of school at Mr Walker’s Preparatory School on Whit eld Avenue and then eventually Greenwich Town Primary School on Spanish Town Road. As the sun rose, there were chores to do, then off to school. As the last bell rang, it was back home to help tend to the shop and the customers. It was a hard upbringing, but one that moulded dad into the customer service-oriented shop owner he was and loved being. Many of you have asked me about my WhatsApp profile picture. That is my grandfather’s rst shop on Waltham Park Road that served as both home and work for dad, uncle Fong and my grandparents. Dad’s father and grandfather were both your stereotypical Chinese Jamaican shopkeepers who basically laid the foundation of a work ethic that has made its way to the current generation who will now carry the torch. I will keep that picture as a reminder of where things started and what hard work can do. In 1959, dad graduated primary school and began what would be some of his favourite years at Kingston College. He remained in contact with some of his old KC friends and supported the school throughout the years. He really enjoyed those years and the friendships he made, which made it very difficult for him when he decided to leave home and school in 1963 at the age of 15. For the next three years, dad would move around and stay with friends until he could rent a room on his own. He would have odd jobs which mostly centred around sales and customer service. Eventually he moved back home and got a job as a salesman at Hand Arnold Limited at the age of 19. Soon after, dad met my mother Beverly and their family and his career started to take shape. First came Michelle in 1967, followed by a career move to T. Geddes Grant in 1968. This is where he met Albert ‘Dockie’ Lym and they became good friends up until now. In 1970, I came along, followed by dad’s rst major acquisition of Havendale Store on Mannings Hill Road in 1971. From there, dad continued to sharpen his skills and continued his dream of being a successful shopkeeper. In 1972, dad continued his risk taking and acquired land which would be the future location of Super Valu Supermarket on Mannings Hill Road. By 1974, Stacy had now joined the family and the doors to Super Valu Supermarket were opened. But just as this dream was starting to take shape, the political unrest across the island forced dad to make the difficult decision to move his family overseas, as well as himself, for four years. Although away from home, dad still used the opportunity to learn something new and make himself a better and smarter person. In 1980, with the country under new leadership, dad returned home and picked up right where he left off, working hard and serving customers. Eventually, Super Valu Supermarket would become one of the most successful supermarkets on the island in the 1980s. This location DAD DID EVERYTHING THE WAY HE WANTED and knew what he was doing PLEASE SEE THE WAY HE WANTED, C6 In 1970, I came along, followed by dad’s first major acquisition of Havendale Store on Mannings Hill Road in 1971. From there, dad continued to sharpen his skills and continued his dream of being a successful shopkeeper. In 1972, dad continued his risk taking and acquired land which would be the future location of Super Valu Supermarket on Mannings Hill Road.
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