Errol Johnson Officially Installed As Custos of St. Mary

Veteran educator, Hon. Errol Johnson, was on August 20 officially installed as Custos of St. Mary, during a ceremony held at the St. Mary High School, where he served as principal for over 20 years.

The ceremony, officiated by Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, was attended by scores of family members, friends, persons from the education fraternity, civic and political leaders, and members of the cadet movement, where he serves as a Lieutenant Colonel.

The Governor General, in his address, expressed confidence that the new Custos, in his new role, will employ the same transformative leadership that he used to position the St. Mary High School as a top performing institution.

“He willingly shared his talent and ideas with other schools in the parish, and was instrumental in implementing an intervention strategy, which helped to improve literacy and numeracy in primary schools. I have no doubt that he will take that transformative approach to his work in the parish at large,” he said.

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, in a message read by Minister with responsibility for Housing, Hon. Dr. Morais Guy, said Mr. Johnson has the necessary skills to offer inspired leadership to his community.

She said Custos Johnson has not only educated the young people of his parish, “but also instilled in them, the virtues of discipline and good values and attitudes, which must be the foundation for building communities and country.”

Mr. Johnson, in his address, said education must be used to instil discipline and build character.

He noted that “in educating ourselves, we must not only stuff our brains, but we must also transform our hearts.”

Mr. Johnson, a graduate of the University of the West Indies, and the India-based University of Rajasthan, was appointed as Custos for St. Mary on June 23, following the death of Hon. Jeffrey McKitty after a period of illness.