Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen is urging residents of St. Catherine to collaborate with the security forces as well as the Custos and Justices of the Peace to reverse the trend in crime and violence which seeks to besmirch the good name of the parish. He was addressing the Installation Ceremony for Reverend the Honourable Jeffrey McKenzie as Custos Rotulorum for St. Catherine. “I firmly encourage you to work within your communities, collaborate with your Justices of the Peace, your Custos and the security forces to reverse the trend which seek to besmirch this beautiful parish,” Sir Patrick Allen said.
In presenting the new Custos to the people of St. Catherine, Sir Patrick Allen cited Reverend McKenzie’s impressive record of pastoral service especially in Spanish Town where he has given leadership to the Phillippo Baptist Church for the past forty years and implemented programmes to address challenges in the Capital and its environs. “I believe that Custos McKenzie will provide the kind of leadership that can help the residents of St. Catherine to appreciate and harness the rich potentials that lie with the parish,” he stated.
He urged Custos McKenzie to embrace the opportunity in each challenge that he will encounter and “work persistently in the parish and deliver valuable outcomes especially in the lives of the young people.”
The Governor-General also expressed appreciation to outgoing Custos Reverend the Hon. Sophia Azan, who has retired after serving in the parish for twelve years. “The people of this parish can attest to your sterling service among them. Without fanfare you have helped many parishioners and many students have benefitted from your caring and quiet support”, he said.