I’m here to take care of the police, poor

CUSTOS OF Clarendon William

‘Billy’ Shagoury has no doubt about his purpose in life.

“God has put me on this earth to take care of the police force, the poor and the indigent as best as I can,” he said. Shagoury disclosed that he came to that realisation in 2016 after undergoing six bypass heart surgeries. The custos made the revelation at a $5,000-a-plate dinner hosted by the May Pen

Primary School Past Students’

Association, where he was recognised for his tremendous work in the parish.

Following glowing tributes from his friends and presentations from the past students, Shagoury, in his acceptance speech, said: “I just do what I have to do when it has to be done.”

‘A giver, committed, generous, reliable were some of the recurrent words to describe the man who has pumped millions of dollars towards the welfare of the parish.’

‘I STARTED YOUNG’

He added that for him, giving is something that comes natural and it actually started in 1963 when he was a mere 14-year-old student at Campion College. While boarding at the school, Shagoury said he planted vegetables and sold it back to the school and the nearby police station at Matilda’s Corner. He said he used the proceeds from the sale to purchase a television set for the police station.

The appreciation ceremony, which was hosted under the theme ‘Exemplary Commitment and Dedication with a Purpose’, saw some of the parish’s elite gathered at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints hall on Sevens Road, May Pen, to pay tribute to Shagoury.

A giver, committed, generous, reliable were some of the recurrent words used to describe the man who has pumped millions of dollars towards the welfare of the parish, not the least of which being the school that was instrumental in putting on the event.

Keynote speaker, Assistant Commissioner of Police Bishop Dr Gary Welsh, described Shagoury as a man who is always working on something, “and when he gets to what he is working on, then he reveals that he is working on something else!”

“A great man who has a great vision, calm and composed,” were just some of the things said about the man many in the parish look up to.

Although born in St Andrew, Shagoury has spent most of his life in Clarendon, and over time has become at one with the parish.