ST. ELIZABETH:

Former secretary/manager of the St. Elizabeth Parish Council, Opal Beharie, was given a big send-off with the hosting of a farewell function in her honour last week.

Beharie served the St. Elizabeth Parish Council for seven years after being transferred from the Westmoreland Parish Council in 2000.

In 1974, she started working at the Westmoreland Parish Council as a National Youth Service worker. In 1976, she was promoted to clerical officer two, then to clerical officer three in 1978.

In 1980, she became Accountant II before becoming senior accountant in 1992, and assistant secretary/manager the following year.

Promoted again

In 1995, she was again promoted, this time to director of finance and then to secretary/manager in 1997, before being transferred to St. Elizabeth.

Once at the St. Elizabeth Parish Council, Beharie spearheaded several major projects, including the upgrading of the council's financial status and staff supervision.

She will now replace Ian Reid, who resigned as secretary/manager, of the St. James Parish Council earlier this month.

Beharie was described by all as a true administrator, who carried out her duties professionally. She was praised by both People's National Party and Jamaica Labour Party councillors.

Mayor of Black River, Councillor Franklyn Witter, lauded Beharie for making his work easy.

"My four years at the council would have been so easy as a result of working with Mrs. Beharie. She is like a mother to the entire parish council." Witter said.

In response, Beharie spoke with pride of her achievements in St. Elizabeth, pointing to a cash-strapped parish council she helped to turn around.

"Financially, the council was strapped for cash. Nevertheless after seven years, I can publicly say the finances of the council have improved significantly, to the extent that we don't have to wait on ministry subventions to honour our bills," she said.

- Michael McLean