New Custos of Westmoreland sworn in

BUSINESSMAN, DOSSEL Owen "Hurry Hurry" Sinclair, is the new Custos of Westmoreland.

He was sworn in by Governor-General, Sir Howard Cooke on Saturday, September 1, at the Negril Hills Golf Club in Sheffield, Westmoreland.

Custos Sinclair replaces businessman, James Thompson, who retired on June 30, after serving for 11 years.

In his address at the ceremony, Minister of National Security and Justice, K.D. Knight, cited the importance of the post of Custos to the overall justice system in Jamaica, adding that the government was committed to improving the justice system continually.

He called for a revitalisation of the 'Values and Attitudes' programme in the parish, as it sought to instil discipline and a sense of responsibility in the people.

The Minister said the word 'community' was taking on a new meaning, as citizens are of this world, of their country and of their little village. "How we behave in Little London, Darliston, Grange Hill or Savanna-la-Mar, can be known instantaneously in Washington D.C., London or Lagos. It is imperative that we understand that our little villages are on the world stage, and so is our country," he added.

Mr. Knight said communities should be led into understanding issues which hinder cohesiveness, destroy families, cause disunity, and be able to deal with them. Communities should begin to acknowledge and condemn family violence, be it physical, sexual or emotional abuse, he said.

He mentioned the victim support programme which recorded 3,724 cases of abuse against women and 2,065 cases of abuse against children last year. "It is even more frightening to note that of the abuses against children, 60 per cent was sexual abuse, and of that number 30 per cent was committed by someone who was a close family member or friend," he said.

Mr. Knight called on all residents of Westmoreland to embrace the victim support programme, adding that this was one mechanism available to help stem the cycle of violence and the abuse of young children.

In his acceptance speech, Custos Sinclair pledged to revive and energise Consultative Committees, the Scout Movement and all voluntary organisations in the parish.

"We will work assiduously with the western regional body of national volunteers, formed to unite our agencies that have the same goals, but which are isolated into little groups. They must be united to strengthen their aims and objectives," he said.

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