NAPDEC Times

CUSTOS ROTULORUM

OF CLARENDON

HON. WILLIAM “BILLY” SHAGOURY CD, JP

TIMES

Vol. 1. No 1 SPECIAL COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE September 2011

I t is often said that true leaders campaign with poetry and

govern with prose and newly appointed Custos Rotulorum

of Clarendon, Hon William “Billy” Shagoury is such a per-

son. As Chairman of the National Association of Parish

Development Committees (NAPDEC), Billy Shagoury has dis-

played the kind of exemplary but selfless leadership which is so

sadly lacking in contemporary Jamaican society, while continu-

ing to adhere to the precepts of the governance model which

we in the “Development Movement” have all endorsed, which

requires the enhanced and coordinated involvement of civil

society.

Undaunted by systemic challenges, Mr. Shagoury has spent a

lifetime seeking to effect the kind of social and economic trans-

formation that is required for the sustainable development of

Clarendon and by extension the island of Jamaica. An una-

bashed advocate and philanthropist, Billy Shagoury has neutral-

ized political brinkmanship in Clarendon by effecting a strategic

alliance of sorts with the political directorate, which further

commends him for the job as Custos Rotulorum of Clarendon.

The “Shagoury doctrine”, implores us all to strengthen our re-

solve to effect those changes within Jamaica, which will not only

facilitate community transformation and regeneration but also

broaden and deepen the impact of the community on economic

and social policy development, thereby facilitating true partici-

patory governance. Therefore, it is only appropriate to dedicate

this first issue of NAPDEC Times along with our heartiest con-

gratulations to William Leon Shagoury, a man for all seasons.

Eurica Douglas

General Manager

From the Editors Desk Table of Contents

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL

From the Editors Desk 2

Table of Contents 2

SPECIAL FEATURE

The Installation Ceremony 3

FEATURE STORY

Meet the Custos 4

HISTORICAL

Custos Rotulorum 6

Order of Precedence 8

The National Association of Parish Develop-

ment Committees (NAPDEC) was formed in

March 2007, as the umbrella organization for

all Parish Development Committees (PDCs)

and was incorporated under the Companies

Act as a Limited Company in October

2009. NAPDEC’s overarching goal is

to represent and promote the interests of all

13 PDCs and the Portmore Citizens Advisory

Council (PCAC) by providing on-going focused

advocacy and policy direction, and ensuring

full protection of the rights of PDCs as an im-

portant local governance structure.

Vol. 1. No. 1 NAPDEC Times 2

Guard of Honour

1:30 pm The Guard of Honour furnished by the Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Island Special Constabulary Force

Arrivals

1:37 pm The Honourable William Shagoury, OD, JP, Custos of Clarendon and Mrs. Shagoury

1:39 pm His Worship the Mayor Cllr. Milton Brown, Mayor of May Pen and Mrs. Brown

1:41 pm Assistant Commissioner of Police Derrick Cochrane

1:46 pm The Honourable Mr. Justice Panton, OJ, CD. President of the Court of Appeal.

1:48 pm The Honourable Mrs. Justice McCalla, OJ, Chief Justice

1:50 pm The Honourable Delroy Chuck, MP, Minister of Justice

1:52 pm Mr. Noel Arscott, MP, Representing the Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller, ON, MP, Leader of the Opposition.

1:54 pm Senator the Honourable Marlene Malahoo-Forte, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade representing The Honourable Bruce Golding, MP, Prime Minister

1:59 pm Their Excellencies, the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen, ON, GCMG, CD, Governor-General and the Most Honourable Lady Allen

2:00 pm Royal Salute

His Excellency the Governor-General is invited to inspect the Guard of Honour

Royal Salute

Their Excellencies greet the Official Party.

Guard of Honour marches off

Their Excellencies and the Official Party pro-ceed to the platform

The Installation

National Anthem

Opening Prayer – Venerable Winston M. Thomas

Rector, St. Gabriel’s Anglican Church

Greetings from the Prime Minister, Senator the Honoura-

ble Marlene Malahoo-Forte, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

and Foreign Trade

Mrs. Maxine Dennis–McPherson, Clerk of the Courts,

reads the Grand Commission appointing the Honourable

William Shagoury, OD, JP as Custos Rotulorum for the

Parish of Clarendon.

His Excellency The Governor-General invites the Honour-

able William Shagoury, OD, JP to take and subscribe the

Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Office for the due exe-

cution of the Office of Custos Rotulorum for the Parish of

Clarendon.

His Excellency the Governor General presents the Custos

with the Grand Commission and the Magistrates’ Roll for

the Parish of Clarendon.

The Orator reads the Proclamation for the conferment of

a National Honour on the Honourable William Shagoury,

OD, JP.

His Excellency The Governor-General confers the Insignia

of the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander to

the Honourable William Shagoury.

The Custos invites all Justices of the Peace of the Parish

of Clarendon to take the Oath/Solemn Declaration and

Affirmation of Allegiance and the Oath/Solemn Declara-

tion for the due execution of the Office of Justices of the

Peace for the Parish of Clarendon.

Item – Content United Brethren Chorale

Address: The Honourable Bruce Golding, MP

Prime Minister

Response by the Honourable William Shagoury CD, JP

Custos Rotulorum for the Parish of Clarendon

Solo by Miss Lisa-Lee Barnett

Miss Clarendon Police Youth Club

Presentation of gifts

Closing Prayer – Pastor Kevin Danvers

May Pen Seventh Day Adventist Church

THE INSTALLATION CEREMONY

SPECIAL FEATURE


September 7, 2011

The holistic development of a society depends to a large

extent on its people who are committed, dedicated and

willing not only to show concern for the welfare of oth-

ers but, to do something to change their circumstances

for the better.

William Leon Shagoury is one such person. Born in the

parish of St. Andrew to Simon and Violet Shagoury, his

early childhood education began at the St. Thomas Moore

and Morris Knibb Preparatory Schools. He subsequently

attended Campion College from where he graduated in

1964. On graduating from Campion College, he pursued

tertiary level training at the College of Arts, Science &

Technology (CAST), now the University of Technology,

where he majored in Business Administration and Cost

Accounting.

Being philanthropic by nature, he was instrumental in

making the lives of the disabled children of the New Hori-

zons School of Hope, May Pen, more comfortable. In part-

nership with the Kiwanis Club of May Pen, additional

classrooms, a lunch room and a workshop valuing in ex-

cess of $1.7m, were constructed. Mr Shagoury has provid-

ed support to the health sector through the organizations

in which he serves by sourcing generators and assisting

with general maintenance as well as the upkeep of the

May Pen and Chapleton Hospitals. He contributed to the

erection of the Lion’s Club Health Centre and the building

of a generator house at Foga Road, Denbigh. In addition,

he solicited the generator. His contribution to the educa-

tion sector is tremendous; he has supported a number of

students with full and partial scholarships as well as pro-

vided the framework for on-the-job training.

Mr Shagoury is a friend to

the Police and believes in

supporting any effort that

will enhance community

safety. In fact, his first gift

to the police was the do-

nation of a television to

the Matilda’s Corner Po-

lice Station. Later, he was

instrumental in building a canteen and dining area as well

as an extension to the Criminal Investigation Bureau’s

facility at the May

Pen Police Station.

Of note, is the fact

that Mr Shagoury

advocated for the

May Pen Police

Station, which was

in a deplorable

condition, to be

relocated from

Main Street to its

present site at

Brooks Avenue. He has also led crime prevention pro-

grammes in Canaan Heights and Effortville, two of the

most volatile and vulnerable communities in the May Pen

Area.

Mr Shagoury’s altruism motivated him to donate asphalt

to assist in paving the roadway from the Mineral Heights

round-a-bout to Lionel Town. He contributes extensively

to the Fire Department and the Rural Agricultural Devel-

opment Authority (RADA). His contribution to Food for

the Poor and numerous other charitable causes is well

known.

His volunteerism is highly commendable. He has given

immeasurable service as:

Justice of the Peace since 1981

Member of the Clarendon Police Civic Committee

currently serving as Chairman / Member and three-

time distinguished President of the Kiwanis Club of

May Pen since 1973

Past Board Member of the Milk River Spa

Chairman, Clarendon Parish Development Committee

Benevolent Society and Clarendon Crime Prevention

Committee

Member, Local Government Reform Planning & De-

velopment Committee

Chairman, Herb McKinley Sports Complex

Past Chairman, Chandlers Pen Primary & Junior High

Chairman of the Property Tax Appeals Committee

MEET THE CUSTOS


FEATURE STORY

Past Board Member, Southern Regional Health Au-

thority

Past Board Member, Natural Resources Conservation

Authority (NRCA)

Lifetime Director, Campion College Alumni

Association

Chairman, Norman Manley International Airport

Limited

Board Member, Airport Authority of Jamaica

Chairman, Rural Agriculture Development Authority

Parish Board since 2007

Vice Chairman, Jamaica Fire Brigade

Vice Chairman , Norman Manley International Airport

Enterprise Team

Chairman, National Association of Parish Develop-

ment Committees (NAPDEC).

In his professional/business capacity, he is the Managing

Director of Shagoury's Vibrated Blocks & Crushed Stones

Ltd., Shagoury's Hardware & Supplies, Bill's Gas & Sup-

plies, Bill's Gas & Appliances, Sha-Gore's Aggregates Ltd.,

Coastal Gases and Middlesex Construction & Equipment

Co. Ltd.

For his outstanding voluntary service, he has received

numerous awards from various entities. These include:-

The Kiwanis Club of May Pen Distinguished Presi-

dent's Award

Lions Club Plaque of Appreciation for Outstanding

Service

May Pen Police Youth Club's Award for Outstanding

Contribution to the Club

The Campion College Hall of Fame Award

The Police Civic Committee's Plaque for Dedicated &

Outstanding Service to the Clarendon Police

and,

The most prestigious, Regional Unsung Hero Runner-

up Award....2004.

He was conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank

of Officer (OD) by the Government of Jamaica in 2006 and

promoted to the rank of Commander in 2011.

Mr Shagoury is married to Jill, an Australian, and the un-

ion has produced two daughters: Shannon and Stephanie.

He continues to give unstintingly of his resources to the

growth and development of his country Jamaica and his

fellowmen.

MEET THE CUSTOS

Leading the fight against crime and anti-

social behaviour

The affable Custos in close consultation with

NAPDEC General Manager Eurica Douglas


FEATURE STORY

The Office of the Custos evolved from Jamaica's colonial

past and can be traced back to the fourteenth century

England when in 1391 King Richard II issued the Grand

Commission appointing Custodes and Justices of the

Peace to assist in maintaining law and order in the coun-

ties. The office subsequently merged into that of the Lord

Lieutenancy of each county. Appointments to this posi-

tion were made by Royal Commission under the Reserve

Forces Act, 1980. Each Lord Lieutenant was also appoint-

ed by the Lord Chancellor as the Custos Rotulorum or

Keeper of the Rolls.

In Jamaica, the first mention of the office appears in the

Legislative Council Minutes of the 28th day of July, 1668

in an Ordinance dealing with the Orderly Proceedings of

the Courts within the island. There, the holder of this

office was described as the first citizen of the parish ap-

pointed by the Governor as his representative to assist in

the maintenance of good order and discipline in the par-

ish and upholding the rule of law. The first Custos men-

tioned by name was Henry Morgan as the Custos of Port

Royal during the Governorship of the Earl of Carlisle in

1680. Then and thereafter the duties and powers at vari-

ous times included:

Custos Rotulorum or Keeper of the Roll of the Justic-

es of the Peace who preside at Petty Sessions Court

and being the Chief Magistrate for the parish.

To receive the Sovereign, any representative of the

royal family, His Excellency The Governor as repre-

senting the sovereign when within the precincts of

the parish.

To recommend to the Governor from time to time

‘gentlemen' for commission as Justices as the parish

required.

As a prerequisite, the holder *the Custos+ must be a

Justice of the Peace and have dealt with such minor

criminal charges as are within his jurisdiction.

An ex-officio member of the Parochial Board and in

this capacity could exercise very beneficial influence.

He was required to attend the meetings of the Board

as often as possible.

Required from time to time to visit the hospitals,

poorhouses and other institutions including every

prison in the parish and to discover any abuse therein

and report the same to the Governor. This was aimed

at ensuring that the affairs of these institutions were

conducted properly.

Except in the parish of Kingston, to appoint one or

more polling places at all elections and one or more

persons to keep the poll at the elections of the Ves-

trymen (now Parish Councillors) and the Church War-

dens (that is the Church of England or Anglican de-

nomination).

Be the chairman of the Board of Highways and Bridg-

es in the parish.

Ministry Paper Numbered 2, Appendix I, approved by

Parliament on the 5th day of July, 1959 and gazetted on

the 5th day of February, 1963 outlined the following new

procedures regarding the appointment and functions of

the Custos:

There shall be a Custos Rotulorum for every parish in

Jamaica. The Custos shall be appointed by the Gover-

nor-General acting on the advice of the Prime Minis-

ter. He shall be a resident of the parish to which he is

appointed save in the case of the Corporate Area.

A Custos shall hold office during the Governor-

General's pleasure and shall in any event vacate his

office on transferring his residence from the parish

(or the Corporate Area in the case of Kingston and St.

Andrew) or on attaining the age of seventy-five years,

unless specially requested to continue in office, pro-

vided that the age limit shall not apply to Custodes

who were appointed prior to 1958.

The Custos of the parish is the representative of the

Governor-General within the parish. It is his duty, in

the absence of the Governor-General, to receive the

Sovereign, any member of the royal family, the Prime

Minister on an official visit, or any important person-

age commended by the Governor-General who ar-

rives within the precincts of the parish. It is his duty

to receive the Governor-General when he pays offi-

cial visits to the parish.

CUSTODES ROTULORUM HISTORICAL


The Custos is the Chief Magistrate of the parish, and

it is his duty to prepare a roster of the Justices of the

Peace within the parish so that there are sufficient

JPs at each meeting of the Petty Sessions Court and in

the various districts to carry out the work.

The Custos is Chairman of the committee in each

parish which is responsible for making recommenda-

tions to the Minister of Home Affairs in regard to

suitable persons for appointment as Justices of the

Peace.

The Custos on behalf of the Governor-General, will

interest himself in the work of all voluntary organisa-

tions in the parish, and will ensure that their activities

receive suitable recognition on public occasions.

The Custos will meet the Judge of the Circuit Court at

the Court House at the opening session.

In addition of the above, Custodes in recent times have

served as:

Chairman of the Governor-General's Achievement

Awards Committee

Chairman of the Parish Advisory Committee on Local

Government Reform

Chairman of the Community Consultative Committee

for the parish

Co-Chairman, along with the Mayor, of the Labour

Day Committee

Chairman of the Prime Minister's Values and Atti-

tudes Committee for the parish

Chairman of the Parish Disaster Preparedness Com-

mittee

President of the Lay Magistrates Association

PRIVILEGES OF THE OFFICE

The Custos is entitled to the following:

To be referred to as "Honourable" both during his

tenure of office and after retirement.

To affix a pair of official "C R" (Custos Rotulorum)

plates to his motor vehicle.

To be conferred with a National Honour of no less a

rank than that of Order of Distinction (Commander

Class) upon his appointment or soon thereafter.

Adapted from Kings House

CUSTODES ROTULORUM ctd

Crossing the political divide, Custos Shagoury (centre) is seen as a unifying

force in Clarendon. From left Anthony Smatt- Senior JP, Dean Peart, MP,

Transport & Works Minister Mike Henry and Dr. Edward Wright VP, CPDC


HISTORICAL

Dr. The Hon Gilbert Allen C.D.; Manchester

Appointed: February 9, 1994

The Hon. Alaric A “Bobby” Pottinger C.D.; St Mary


The Hon. Radcliffe O Walters C.D., JP; St Ann

Appointed: March 22, 1999

The Hon. Roy E Thompson C.D., JP; Portland

Appointed: August 28, 2000

The Hon. Dossel O Sinclair C.D.; Westmoreland

Appointed: July 1, 2001

Rev. the Hon. Sophia Azan C.D., JP; St Catherine

Appointed: May 1, 2003

The Hon. Marcia M Bennett C.D.; St Thomas

Appointed: July 1, 2004

Dr. the Hon. David Stair, C.D., JP; Hanover

Appointed: September 15, 2008

The Hon. Ewen Corrodus, C.D., JP; St James


The Hon. Steadman Fuller, C.D.; Kingston

Appointed: January 1, 2010

The Hon. Paul Muschett, C.D.; Trelawny


The Hon. Marigold Harding, C.D., JP; St Andrew


The Hon. Wilfred Nembhard, C.D., JP; St Elizabeth

Appointed: September 1, 2010

The Hon. William Shagoury, C.D., JP; Clarendon


ORDER OF PRECEDENCE


HISTORICAL

NAPDEC Times

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