WE extend our condolences to the family and friends of Trelawny’s late custos, Mr Royland Barrett.

The passing on Friday of Mr Barrett, whose contribution to Trelawny’s development cannot be quantified, has created a void that will not easily be filled.

However, the people of Trelawny can take comfort in the fact that although they have lost a unique personality, they have been left a legacy in the examples that this patriotic man set during his rich and fruitful life which, according to yesterday’s edition, ended at the age of 71 in the Kingston Public Hospital.

Said legacy is immediately evident in the love he demonstrated for his parish and the people he served as custos for 18 years, as he championed the cause of volunteerism, inspiring through the excellence that is an inevitable consequence of diligence and commitment to upholding the highest standards in public life.

A dedicated historian, Mr Barrett understood the importance of knowing the past in order to properly appreciate how to proceed appropriately in the future with a view to propelling the progress of his people and environs.

Consequently, he was able to bring an informed perspective to the many issues which affected Trelawnians on a daily basis. The people of Trelawny are well aware of the values he stood for — dignity, integrity and adherence to the rule of the law which he also made a profession of. Thanks to his scholarship, the importance of preserving the beautiful Georgian architecture of Trelawny has never been undermined by the passage of time and its history has always featured prominently on its calendar of events.

Memorable events and projects include the Emancipation exhibitions at the William Knibb Memorial Church. Conceptualised and researched by Mr Barrett, the exhibition successfully brought home the role that the church played in the abolition of the physical bondage and psychological suppression that was the slave trade.

The famous 18th century water wheel in Martha Brae, which testifies to the fact that Falmouth was the first town in this country to receive piped water, was just one of the many monuments which Mr Barrett oversaw the restoration of in his drive to see the parish develop as an ideal tourist destination.

The massive cruise ship pier currently under construction at the old Hampden wharves was also one of his special areas of interest and he never lost the opportunity to remind the developers and municipal authorities to honour their obligation to keep ordinary Trelawnians in the mix of opportunities its completion will realise.

The contribution that his perspectives have made to the archives of this newspaper and other institutions of record will undoubtedly benefit many a scholar in future generations.

A staunch believer in the need for Trelawny natives to give back to the parish, he led by example by remaining faithful to a post which receives very little by way of stipendary support from the State, even as he set up his business — ROIS Villas — and life there.

Even when ill-health threatened to intervene, Mr Barrett continued to serve, making sacrifice after sacrifice to ensure that the people’s business got done.

Had he not passed on Friday, he would have still been serving today at the request of Governor General Sir Patrick Allen who asked him to stay on the job till month-end pending the appointment of his successor.

It is our hope that that individual will rise to the very significant challenge that Mr Barrett’s departure has occasioned.