GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT - Dedication, the key to success

By Petulia Clarke, Staff Reporter

Locksley Johnson, the 2001 Governor-General's Achievement Awardee for Portland, with the plaque he received last Wednesday from Governor-General Sir Howard Cooke during a ceremony for Surrey winners at the Morant Villas Hotel, Morant Bay, St. Thomas. - Ian Allen

AT EIGHT, many boys living in rural Jamaica are in their backyards flying kites and helping their fathers to rear livestock. A few live out their childhood in play games depicting adulthood, but never quite understanding it.

Not Locksley Oliver Johnson.

When he turned eight, the young man, born in Dressike, St. Mary, was supporting himself through the sale of sugar cane. His mother left the family home a few years after he was born and his family was forced to live in a small rented board house. His father tried farming but wasn't successful. When his aunt, who was the family's main financial support died later, the five-member family struggled.

Locksley, the Portland recipient of this year's Governor-General's Achievement Award for Surrey, would walk three miles from as early as 5:00 a.m., to collect and transport cane to Mount Angus Primary School where he was a student.

He sold the cane after school and at recess, with help from his stepmother and his sister. "I had to get lunch money, which was about a shilling, and take home money from this," he said. "The girls in the family were not asked to do these things, I had to do it."

And even after he got home, sometimes he had to prepare his own meals.

At 12, things changed a bit. His stepmother left and his father, who by this time was often an unemployed casual worker, could barely support the family.

To finance his education, young Locksley resorted to enduring the back-breaking task of carrying, breaking and selling stones to the Public Works Department (PWD) which used to construct roads using the broken stones.

All through this, school remained at the top of his agenda. He was always punctual and never absent. "My parents, as poor as they were, didn't stop me from going to school," he said. "It was always a must for me, the people in school and in the community showed a lot of interest."

Recognising his dedication to his studies, his teachers and members of the churches in the community encouraged him and helped him when he couldn't afford school fees. Their dedication paid off and in 1964, he was successful in the First Jamaica Local Examination and by 1966 was the first male student in the school's history to be successful in the Third Jamaica Local Examination.

"It was probably here that I realised that I had to lift myself out of the dungeon my parents were in," he said. "I always knew I had it in me. I knew all along that I was focusing on something that was better."

Following this achievement, Mr. Johnson taught for almost two years before entering Mico Teachers' College in 1968. He managed to finance his studies partly with savings from his stint as a pre-trained teacher and from funds received from the sale of a cow he had bought with his first salary.

Subsequently, he taught at the Jacks River, Ramble and Water Valley All-Age schools in the parish, his hard work having elevated him from dire poverty. It came as no surprise to those who know him that he then became involved in the community.

Mr. Johnson started the savings programme at Water Valley and became integrally involved in the voluntary arm of the savings movement. He performed so well that he was elected "Outstanding Savings Co-ordinator" for St. Mary in his second year. In 1975, he was appointed Regional Officer with the National Savings Committee serving the parishes of Portland, St. Mary and St. Thomas until 1985.

In 1986, Mr. Johnson went back to the school environment serving as Guidance Councillor at the Buff Bay Secondary for one year, followed by a four-year stint at Titchfield High School where he was promoted to Senior Teacher. In 1991, he was appointed Principal of the Port Antonio Primary School, a position he occupies today.

Over the years, the father of three daughters, has successfully completed several study courses, including the Certificate in Management Studies at the University of the West Indies.

Mr. Johnson was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1994 and is the President of the Lay Magis-trates' Association of Portland. He has given invaluable services to many voluntary organisations, including being chairman of the Friends of the Port Antonio Hospital and a member of the Board of the Portland Health Service and the Portland Co-operative Credit Union.

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