Giving back to the community

Claudine Housen, Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU:

ALWAYS AN active participant in community activities, newly-appointed Justice of the Peace (JP) Ms. Pauline Reid considers her appointment a great honour and promises to serve to the best of her ability.

"I accepted the office because I think it is very dignified, one that should be upheld with the highest level of pride and integrity," Ms. Reid said. "It is also an opportunity to give back to the community and I am always involved in community work."

Listing a number of her commitments, some which are quite impressive Ms. Reid told The Gleaner that she intends to bring her expertise and her high level of integrity to this new post.

"I try to operate with the highest level of integrity and fairness," she said. "I take my appointment very seriously and I intend to uphold the position of Justice of the Peace with the respect and dignity that is fitting for this office"

Tied to the issue of honesty, especially when serving the community, Justice of the Peace Reid spoke on the issue of corrupt JPs and rumours of JPs who collect fees from people to sign documents.

"I do not believe that persons who engage in any form of corruption should be allowed to continue in their role as Justice of the Peace," Ms. Reid stated. "This office demands that you operate with a certain level of discipline, commitment and veracity. These principles should be upheld at all times."

Ms. Reid is a director and manager of the Wexford Court Hotel on Gloucester Avenue Montego Bay. She is the vice-president of the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Rotary Club of Montego Bay East and president of the Jamaica Association of Administrative Professionals, among other things.

Contact: The Wexford Court Hotel, Gloucester Avenue, Tel: 952-2855

Aware of the plight of society.

WESTERN BUREAU:

BORN IN Gibraltar, St. Ann, Mr. Joseph Hylton, affectionately called 'Joe' by those he holds dear, spent 13 years in Chicago, Illinois, before returning to Jamaica in 1989.

Montego Bay was his choice to relocate with his family on his return.

Now many years later, this astute businessman, the director of financial services at the Wyndham Rose Hall Resort and Country Club, has joined the ranks as one of St. James' newest Justices of the Peace (JPs).

"I was asked to be a JP about five years ago by the Custos, who thought I would make a fine JP," Mr. Hylton said. "I thought it would naturally help with serving the community, the immediate community in particular where I live at Rose Hall, the 780 employees that work here at Wyndham, some of our guests that come in from time to time."

Having performed numerous community-related duties, Mr. Hylton has been mistaken for a JP on many occasions prior to his appointment.

"The question was asked many times by members of the community and employees of the hotel, and I would answer disappointingly because I wasn't," he said.

Serving the community for a little over two months, Mr. Hylton says that one of the differences the role has brought to his life is to make him more aware of the plight of society.

"New JPs do trials in the Petty Sessions Court and my first day of court, back in early May, brought about the reality of some of the difficulties that families have living together today," he said. "I realised how blessed I am, not to be experiencing the same thing and from that I hope to do my part so that Jamaica will go back to a Jamaica that is as caring as when I was
growing up."

Mr. Hylton can be contacted at The Wyndham Rose Hall Resort and Country Club, 953-2650

Claudine Housen

New position an enhancement

WESTERN BUREAU:

A TEACHER for 27 years and a principal for three, newly- appointed Justice of the Peace Mr. Charles Stewart views his latest position as an enhancement of his already established role of principal for Goodwill All-Age in Salt Marsh.

"As principal of this school, I have been assisting persons with their documents and their recommendations," Mr. Stewart said. "I thought that the duty was similar the role of a JP and as such I sought to avail myself as a JP."

Evidently someone who holds community outreach in high regard, Mr. Stewart, under his new post, plans to increase his efforts in his surrounding communities.

"I will continue assisting persons with their documents," he said. As a JP you are a prominent person in the community, persons look up to you for guidance and so I will avail myself to provide guidance."

Mr. Stewart also spoke of the need for positive male role models for today's youth and sees his new position as yet another platform through which he can be a positive influence.

"The young men need persons for role models so living as an upright person in the community I can be used as a role model, said Mr. Stewart who added that he is, "looking forward to sitting in the Petty Sessions Court when the time comes."

A secretary of the Goodwill Community Council and Past Students' Association, and an elder in the Goodwill United Church, Mr. Stewart told The Gleaner that being a JP so far has been quite uplifting.

"It uplifts my spirits and persons are looking up to me perhaps even more than before," he said.

Mr. Stewart can be reached at: The Goodwill All- Age, Chatham P.A., St. James. Tel: 605-2012

Claudine Housen

Daughter of MoBay, gentle and friendly spirit

Monique Hepburn, Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU:

MRS. SEVILLE Mildred Allen, general manager at the Montego Bay Ice Company Limited, is a daughter of St. James. Born in the small community of Amity Hall, Mrs. Allen retains much of the gentle and friendly spirit that comes with growing up in a quaint farming community. For more than 30 years she has worked with the Montego Bay Ice Company and has seen the city grow over time. It is interesting that while she deals with many clients on a daily basis, she is always cordial.

In speaking to The Gleaner on her appointment as a Justice of the Peace, Mrs. Allen commented, "I hope to do my best to serve the people in my community and its environs." She said that she is the kind of person who likes to see things work properly and in order to achieve this end result she endeavours to do her best.

Actively involved in the Omen Federation at the Bethiphil Baptist Church in St. James, Mrs. Allen says that in her capacity as a Justice of the Peace, she has particular interest in mediation and dispute resolution. She feels strongly JPs should always seek to maintain high ideals and that corrupt practices on the part of some members of the public as well should end.