King
Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
ONE HUNDRED and sixty three dollars. That's what Bishop J.F. King, chaplain at the May Pen cemetery, has been earning per month for the 15 years he has had responsibility for presiding over the burial of the Corporate Area's paupers.
"Well, that's what the Government gives me bra bra," said the diminutive 74-year-old minister. "That cannot even buy a good bread. Things getting harder and harder. It is full-time they do something about it, as I have been serving them so long."
The mantle of cemetery chaplain fell on Bishop King when his predecessor, Ivan Francis, died.
"When Ivan Francis was alive and he could not make it, he would call me and I would go and commit the bodies for him, so that's why when he died I was appointed chaplain."
Bishop King told The Sunday Gleaner that as chaplain, he has to report to the cemetery on Tuesdays and Thursdays to do the committals for the bodies of "golden agers and poor persons" whose burials are being undertaken by the state.
MEAGRE WAGE
The number of interment he supervises per week fluctuates. Years ago he used to perform more committals. In more recent times the maximum number of interment he oversees is four and there are days when he has nothing to do. But still, after serving the state for more than 10 years on that "meagre wage", Bishop King decided to take action.
He headed for his bosses at the KSAC. One of them was the Town Clerk Errrol Greene, who he said told him to put his request in writing and that it would be discussed at a meeting. Bishop King said he did as he was told, but it profited him nothing. The pay was still $163.
However, the minister did not stop there. In 2003, he drafted a follow-up letter which he sent to the then new Mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKenzie, Superintendent of Cemeteries, Dennis Messias, and Errol Greene. Still a reply was not forthcoming.
"I wrote the KSAC approximately three or four times asking them for a raise as it is very hard, but I have gotten no reply from them," bewailed Bishop King, who also wears the hat of chaplain at Brown's Funeral Home and Pastor for Fellowship United Church, Wellington Street in Denham Town.
Mr. Messias confirmed that Bishop King has been receiving $163 for the past 15 years and said he was aware of the attempts made by him to get an increase.
"Yes, he wrote several letters to the Town Clerk because I was the one that instructed him to put his case to the Town Clerk," said Mr. Messias.
The Superintendent revealed that the Town Clerk has assigned him the task of investigating the matter and recommending a salary increase for Bishop King.
"Owing to the fact that it is not a regular thing him do, only on Tuesdays and Thursdays when there are poor relief or pauper burials we call him... perhaps for a day he does about two or three. I would think about how much he does for the month and based on that I would recommend a salary."
Mr. Messias pointed out that the salary he will eventually recommended will not be fixed, neither will the chaplain be paid per burial. He was, however, unable to say when the raise would take effect.
"Well, I don't know when he will get it. It is just me to work on it because the Town Clerk has given me that instruction. But, I am looking about it and I am going to give it priority now that it can be dealt with."
The Sunday Gleaner asked Bishop King why he continued working for so long as chaplain on such meagre wages and he replied: "I just like the preaching really, I don't have no special reason."
A resolute Bishop King said the love for what he does will not be enough to keep him anymore.
"I was considering that if I don't hear anything from them I would give it up and I am sure that they won't find anybody to work for that."
At the end of the day, Bishop King says he is not asking for an arm or a leg.
"The least they should pay me is $4,000 a month," he said.
