St Ann JPs recognised for giving long service

Twenty one Justices of the Peace (JPs), each of whom has served the parish of St Ann for decades, were honoured yesterday.

The JPs were given plaques in recognition of their long service at a special ceremony held at the Cardiff Hotel in Runaway Bay, St Ann. 

The list of awardees included several persons who have served with distinction in their chosen professions in education, medicine, law and business, among others. 

Errol Morrison led the list of awardees as he was recognised for 34 years of service.

Recognised for 30 years were Rupert Brown, Richard Donaldson, G.W. Johnson and Lenworth Sterling.

For serving 28 years the awardees were Leonie Goldsmith, Zaccheus McKnight, Iris Slack, Lloyd D Smith and Custos Emeritus Radcliffe O Walters, while those recognised for 26 years of service were Dr Horace Betton, Cargil Brown, Cynthia Cunningham, Basil Gordon, Gwendolyn Hamilton, OD; Ramesh “Jim” Lakhwani, OD; Norma Palmer, Norman Parchment, Joel Slack, James Walsh, CD; and Norma E Walters, educator.

Custos of St Ann Norma L Walters, in her remarks, thanked the awardees and hailed the voluntary service they have given, which she noted totalled over four million man hours. The Custos said the JPs must be applauded for their contribution and also thanked them for accepting the “small token” being offered as recognition.

“Let us seek to serve well to make an amazing difference; let us work with our heads, hearts, souls and bodies,” she encouraged.

James Walsh, who responded on behalf of the group, said it was good to be recognised.

He said the JPs got great satisfaction and fulfilment from serving and the recognition would encourage them to continue serving.

Chief Justice Bryan Sykes, who was guest speaker, reiterated his desire to make Jamaica’s justice system the best in the Caribbean in three years and one of the best in the world in six years.

He said clearance rate of cases, case disposal rate, and hearing date certainty were areas critical to achieving this objective. He, too, congratulated the JPs for serving the country.

Meanwhile, Moneague College student Tia McInnis was awarded the Radcliffe O. Walters Scholarship valued at $100,000, at the ceremony.

McInnis, a Westwood High School past student who is in the second year of the Bachelor in Secondary Education course at Moneague College, expressed delight at being awarded a scholarship.

“I know I will live my vision, my dreams will come true; I promise to create opportunities for students to enjoy learning. I am persuaded that God will see me there. I am overjoyed that people believe in me,” she stated, to applause from the audience.

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