Condolence book for St. Juste at Toronto consulate

TORONTO — The Consulate General of Jamaica in Toronto, Canada, opened a Condolence Book for the late Consul General, Margarietta St. Juste, on Friday July 8, 2011.

Jamaicans living in Toronto and surrounding areas are invited to sign the Condolence Book, which will remain open until Friday, July 15 at the Consulate, 303 Eglinton Avenue East.

Mrs. St. Juste, who served as Jamaica’s Consul General to Toronto from 1993 to 1997, died on June 29 in Kingston. Funeral service will be held on Tuesday, July 12, at the Sts. Peter and Paul Church, Old Hope Road, Kingston starting at 2.30 p.m.

Jamaicans living in Toronto are still expressing sadness at the untimely death of the former Consul General, who is survived by her mother, two sons and grandchildren.

While signing the Condolence Book, Jamaica’s Consul General in Toronto, Seth George Ramocan, remarked that Jamaica has lost a faithful and dedicated servant.

Regional Director of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) in Canada, Sandra Scott, said Mrs. St. Juste was a friend, a great diplomat and daughter of the soil.

Author Rachel Manley described the late Consul General as an extraordinary Jamaican woman, “whose life and legacy made us all so proud”.  She said she leaves a grateful country and many hearts bereft.

A message from the Alliance of Jamaican Alumni Associations, an umbrella group of some 35 Jamaican past students associations in Toronto, said the group will always remember her tremendous support and encouragement, which made a difference in the lives of students in both Toronto and Jamaica.

Publisher of the community newspaper, DAWN, Lorna Simms, said tears came easily when she heard of the passing of Mrs. St. Juste. She recalled the time the late Consul General assisted her, after thieves broke into the offices of her company and stole the equipment.

“One man who came in with a cheque, said Mrs. St. Juste had challenged him when he said he was sorry to hear about DAWN. She had said, ‘Well put some money with the sorry, she needs to buy back her things’,” she related.

Ms. Simms said she will never forget the day that Mrs. St. Juste called her to her office and said she had something to give her.

“She had collected enough money to purchase all the stolen goods.  In fact, there was enough to buy a bigger computer at the time,” she said.

By CAROLYN GOULBOURNE-WARREN, JIS Reporter