MAY PEN, Clarendon — William Shagoury was handed a symbolic key to the town of May Pen on Tuesday evening during the Clarendon Municipal Corporation’s (CMC’s) annual Christmas Carolling and Tree Lighting Ceremony, his last such ceremony as custos of the parish.

The decision to honour the retiring custos — who has given more than 50 years of service across political, civic, and community-based entities — was made during the corporation’s November meeting.

Even as he humbly accepted the recognition on Tuesday, Shagoury did what he has always done — highlight the need for continued development of the parish.

“As I prepare to take on the retirement chapter of my life, I want to urge you to continue to improve our parish’s public amenities. Don’t forget strategic objective 154, which is to provide adequate access to quality markets. May Pen Market needs to be retrofitted to suit the demand for the millennium,” he emphasised.

He also spoke out against street vending, urging residents to be mindful when using public facilities provided by the State, and pointed to the need for a transport centre in May Pen as part of a wider plan.

“Again, I refer to a parish plan: the development of a suitable transport centre in May Pen and all the smaller towns like Kellits, Spaulding, and Frankfield; we need to promote orderly development,” said Shagoury.

He also invited his municipal colleagues to be more meticulous and non-partisan in their work.

“Staff and councillors of the CMC, I urge you to scrutinise the planning applications more thoroughly in place before authorising the building application. Councillors, we know your allocation is minimal, but I ask you to develop a less partisan approach to your work,” he said.

Shagoury also appealed to Jamaicans to develop civic pride and show love to each other.

“Demonstrate more love for the country. Be more mindful and conscious of our actions and how they can affect our country and parish. Proper waste management is just an example of something we must practise. Know that everything you do leads to a reaction of some sort,” he said.

“We must be more neighbourly to each other… The essence of our existence is about one love, and brotherly and neighbourly treatment of each other. That, my friends, can and will solve all our problems. If we bring back the love and care for each other, as we light this Christmas tree, let it be a beacon of hope and unity that guide us into the new year and a part of love, peace, wealth, prosperity and health,” he added.

The custos was joined in lighting the Christmas tree by Prime Minister Andrew Holness and mayor of May Pen Winston Maragh. The ceremony was attended by a wide cross section of the business community and political representatives including Justice Minister Delroy Chuck.