IT was their camaraderie that first stood out — two women spotted walking harmoniously towards the staff room at Marcus Garvey Technical High School in St Ann, after exiting a motor vehicle with meals purchased from a popular fast food chain in their hands.

It was later revealed that they are both vice-principals at the school and best friends since the 1990s.

“I’m…acting vice-principal for the Mansfield campus. August coming, I would have been here for 29 years; I came here in 1997. I have seen many changes, many transitions. Many principals come and go; vice-principals, teachers come and go; and students’ behaviour changed,” Melissa Maragh-Palmer told the Jamaica Observer before sharing how her friendship with Chormine Brown-Henry, vice-principal at the Ocho Rios campus, has stood the test of time.

Brown-Henry, who started at the school as a teacher in 1996, told the Sunday Observer that her friendship with Maragh-Palmer makes running the affairs of the school a lot easier.

“I worked for a year, took a break, and went into the hospitality industry. I’m a hospitality person, even though I’m a teacher now. I came back in 1998, and ever since then, I have been here. I’m still here, and I have no plans to go anywhere else. Marcus Garvey Technical High does something to me,” said Brown-Henry.

“We were just teachers and we became vice-principals at the same time who were in charge of two different campuses. Through the years she has headed the Department for Human Ecology [and] I have been in charge of work experience along with special functions like graduations, award ceremonies, and anything to do with the Ministry of Education coming in…. We found each other about 1999,” added Brown-Henry as she explained that ever since they met they have worked together and the relationship has “mushroomed beautifully”.

According to Brown-Henry, despite many things threatening to destroy their friendship over the years, they managed to hold it together.

“Many things came in-between that would have broken it but we have weathered the storm and we have risen above everything. One of the things is that we have each other’s back, and so you can’t get in-between us. We quarrel, of course,” quipped Brown-Henry as she pointed out that they always settle their differences quickly.

The two friends said the harmonious relationship they enjoy contributes to the smooth running of the school.

They pointed out that their friendship extends beyond school hours as they even travel overseas together whenever they get the chance.

“We basically go everywhere together; she has been my travelling partner for years. Anywhere I am going I draw her behind me, and she draws me behind her wherever she is going. She only wants to hear one pan knock and we’re ready,” said Maragh-Palmer.

The vice-principals shared that, led by Principal Richard Williams, Marcus Garvey Technical is basically ready for the start of the new school year in September.