- Michael Sloley/Freelance Photographer
The Hon. R. James de Roux - the island's longest-serving Custos.
THE HON. R. James de Roux, J.P. is the longest- serving custos in the island of Jamaica. He traces his roots in May Pen back 100 years, and his ancestors back to the Haiti of Toussaint L'Ouverture and beyond to the pre-revolution French Court where two women of the de Roux family were guillotined.
A sense of history, of tradition and pride of place emerges as we question the custos about his duties as the senior custodian in the island and about the parish in which he lives. He is truly saddened that children in today's Jamaica do not appear to be taught history in a way which connects them with their past.
Custos de Roux, whose full title is "Custos Rotulorum", or Keeper of the Rolls, is in possession of a roll which is 22 years old. Also the chief of the Lay Magistrates, he keeps on these rolls the names of all Justices of the Peace in his parish.
On his retirement, the roll will be placed in the national archives.
However, retirement is nowhere in sight for the Clarendonian.
Although he is the senior custos among all the island's custodes, he is still the youngest. Tough talking and a stickler for tradition and correct conduct, he recently remarried after the death of his first wife and is now the father of a two-year-old boy. His other children, a boy and a girl, live abroad.
In 2002, Custos de Roux was awarded the national honour of Commander of Distinction. A frequent writer of letters to local authorities, he is well known in Clarendon for his intense interest in community development.
"They (the Public Works Department) use my letters as worksheets," he chuckles. "Here is a pothole, go get it filled in," he quotes.
Not tired yet
After many years of upbraiding the local Works Department and the Parish Council for their laxity in maintaining infrastructure in May Pen, he is not tired yet. "Most custodes take on these responsibilities," de Roux told Outlook. "We are involved in attempts to develop the community around us."
Personally, for this man, a century of residence makes it hard to do otherwise. The de Roux family migrated from France during the revolution. They went to England and from there came to Haiti in the West Indies. When Haitian revolutionary Toussaint L'Ouverture asked the whites to leave that island, they dispersed again to Jamaica, to Costa Rica as well as Panama.
Here in Clarendon, the de Roux clan became involved in hardware retail in the 20th century. Custos de Roux has lived in Clarendon all his life, leaving only to attend school in Kingston were he went to Kingston College, after leaving elementary classes in Cave Valley. At KC, he represented his school in swimming and football.
For years, he remained an athletic figure in Clarendon, riding a bicycle hither and yon. Nowadays, he is retired from work and plays golf in Mandeville on weekends, in the main, focusing exclusively on his duties as chief custodian. The responsibility is a weighty one.
"The custos represents the Governor-General," he reminds us. "He is the first citizen of the parish."
Whenever the Governor-General visits the parish, no matter the location, he is met and catered to by his parish representative. "We see to his security and well-being and then see that he is safely on his way. These courtesies are also extended to ambassadors and high commission representatives who travel throughout the country."
Custos de Roux is worried that a lot of protocol is being discarded in many areas. "Courtesies are ignored. We receive invitations to some events the very morning before it occurs in the afternoon. We are not happy about that. It is just good manners to give notice in good time."
The 'custode', the term from which the word custos is derived, is the oldest honorary position in the island, dating back to the 16th century. It is not a paid position. The retired hardware merchant willingly signs papers for people all the day long food handlers permits, legal matters, passport forms doing so year in, year out, without complaint.
A small allowance which is not regularly given, is certainly not enough to maintain his office on Main Street in May Pen. "Many of the administrative costs we pay ourselves," Mr. de Roux admits.
The custos has an official passport and, once every five years, receives a 20 per cent duty concession on a motor vehicle.
It helps them to, at least, get around. Come election time, Custos de Roux will sit as chairman of the parish electoral committee and lecture candidates on good conduct. He does not believe in winking at bad behaviour. "(Even) if JPs are charged with criminal conduct, I crack down," he says.
"They should not take payment for their services, and they should keep order without fear or favour. The Justice of the Peace position also carries great weighting only a JP can read the riot act. A JP ought to be someone of integrity."
About his own duties, the custos says, "sometimes we are like doctor, lawyer and Indian chief. People come to us with their worries and we sit and listen. I am also called upon to go to many functions, including many for retired teachers. It has been a wonderful experience. I enjoy it."
He adds, "I am known as a person who talks plain. If there is a problem and I see that I am right, I do not pull back on my words. If I am wrong, I will apologise immediately."
Left to run itself
There is a lot for him to talk about. In Clarendon, he says, "nothing is maintained as it should. Neither the Mayor, nor Member of Parliament, nor resident magistrate, is resident here. The Public Works superintendent and the Fire superintendent live in Spanish Town.
"May Pen is left to run itself. Of 31 doctors who practise in the town, only six live here. Business people also make their money in the town but most live away. The town suffers."
Some may be tired of his complaints, but, maybe 100 years from now, his own children may be the inheritors of his efforts.
At one time, Custos de Roux organised the creation of a bus park in May Pen and would replace street lights himself. Now he is no longer able to intervene as frequently, but, as long as he has the breath, his voice will be heard.
