FOR 28 years, Stephen Williams has been a traffic warden, helping students of St Catherine Primary School and other institutions in Spanish Town get from one side of White Church Street to the other side safe and sound.

The job is a far cry from lucrative, but the love Williams has for children and his belief that they are the future and must be protected, continue to be his motivation to get up early every day and head to the streets.

On Monday, when schools reopened after the summer break, he told the Jamaica Observer that without consulting anybody, he volunteered his service in 1994 after witnessing a student make a dangerous dash across the street without looking left or right for oncoming vehicular traffic.

“I live off Brunswick Avenue in Irish Pen and I used to ride a fudge bike, selling ice cream cake and bag juice from school to school. Coming from St Jago High School one day, I saw a little boy just run across the street. After he ran across the street I said to myself that if I was nearer I could have hit down that little boy. I said to myself that someone was needed to cross the children.

“I investigated and found out the time when school over [ends] and I started to come out. I found out that school used to over at 2:45 pm. When mi done sell at ‘Jago’ mi ride out and come and wait until school over. I did that right up to the year 2000. The school wanted to give me the job officially but I told them I was working for God and I didn’t need the job. They continued to pressure me until I gave in, and they gave me the job officially in 2000 as a traffic warden.”

Williams shared that his bond with the children is so strong that he suffered mentally when the novel coronavirus pandemic forced schools to close.

When he isn’t crossing the children he operates a small stall across from the school from which he sells sweets, drinks and other items.

“When the pandemic came in, it held off the children for a while and it was challenging for me to be at home. I give thanks for the face-to-face class because dem get fi come out and dem get fi learn better. Not all the children could manage the online class. The children are loyal and I have a great bond with both teachers and principal,” he said.

A female vendor across the street from St Catherine Primary School’s main gate spoke highly of Williams and praised him for his dedication to ensuring the children’s safety.

“Him tek care a dem enuh and him counsel the new ones weh come. He tells them when to stop and wait for the whistle, and when to move. I appreciate him for what he does,” she said.

Even parents are grateful for his services. According to one mother, Williams is doing a fantastic job.

“The children are in safe hands. He talks to them about road safety. Even during the holidays when he is not on duty, if he is out here he would still cross them even though he is not officially on duty. They can always rely on him,” she said.

Octavia Edwards Shaw, 27, who has been a traffic warden for a decade, also told the Observer about her contentment with the job.

She ensures parents, as well as students attending Convent of Mercy Academy “Alpha” and Alpha Primary School, use the pedestrian crossing on South Camp Road near Sabina Park in Kingston, safely.

“My experience is good; I love the children. Because of them, I am here. I have a good relationship with them. Taking care of them is what I enjoy the most,” she said.

“Every morning dem come and say ‘Aunty’ and dem hug me up. All when mi sad, from mi see them me alright,” she said, noting that she was introduced to the job by her mother who is also a traffic warden.

Edwards Shaw said she takes pride in forming a good relationship with the students, and her only challenge is the unruly taxi drivers who refuse to allow the children to cross the street.

“The taxi drivers come around on us and want to hit us, as they are so impatient. They don’t stop. They just speed through the light. Even sometimes I would get frustrated with the drivers because they are even using their phones and not paying attention,” she shared.

Apart from her service as a traffic warden, Edwards Shaw said she also works as a nail technician and a jewellery designer.

Noting that she wouldn’t change anything about her job, she said, “I do this 2000 per cent for them. I naturally love them. They are mine and I will always look out for their safety.”