Clarendon's custos treats children, infirmary residents
Published:Tuesday | December 22, 2015 | 12:00 AMHorace Fisher
After forking out millions of dollars for kiddies' Christmas treats in Clarendon's 10 police divisions, St Monica and St Augustine children's homes and paediatrics patients at the May Pen Hospital, Custos of Clarendon William Shagoury last Saturday turned the philanthropic spotlight on wards at the May Pen Infirmary.
The custos, who is in his fourth year of sharing Christmas cheer with wards and staff at the May Pen's Infirmary, lamented that wards at infirmaries are often left behind during the Christmas' season. He also appealed to businesses to play a more active role in the care for wards at infirmaries.
And in his customary bantering, the custos joked that at the rate of which he is throwing money at charities, he, too, will soon end up in an infirmary ... with millions of dollars already contributed to fÍte his parishioners during the Yuletide season.
"At the rate that I am going, I will soon end up right here (infirmary). So I have to ensure that the place and the wards are well taken care of until my time comes," the custos said jokingly.
"But on a serious note, the society runs the risk of forgetting about these unfortunate folks here at the infirmary," he warned.
"And I must commend Scotiabank (May Pen) for sticking to the task with us for the two last Christmases. And I am making a personal appeal to corporate Jamaica to step up their act in caring for the less fortunate," the custos appealed.
Mayor of May Pen Scean Barnswell shared with Rural Xpress that the Clarendon Parish Council, which has responsibility for the infirmary, has partnered with the custos for the last four years to bring Christmas cheer to the infirmary's wards.
Barnswell also commended Scotiabank for their support of local charities, and thanked the staff at the infirmary for their care of the wards.
"It is my fourth year partnering with the custos, and while these people are often forgotten about, the custos continues to play a critical role in the care of the wards here," Barnswell said.