Former Port Maria Mayor, Richmond Councillor Creary Says He Was Reluctant To Start But Is Fulfilled By Public Service, Representation
PORT MARIA, St Mary; October 27, 2026
Having reluctantly entered politics more than 23 years ago, Richard Creary looks back with satisfaction and pride at his service to the St Mary Municipal Corporation (previously the St Mary Parish Council) and the people of the Richmond Division. He rose to become Deputy Mayor and Mayor, Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the Corporation, looking after the affairs of the parish in which he was born and where he still lives.
Councillor Creary tells the North Coast Times that he was “reluctant” to enter politics even after a close friend, Councillor Robert Montague, and his brother Don Creary encouraged him to step forward.
(A broad smile as Richard Creary, right,is pinned with the insignia)
But he did step forward to serve in 2003 after the Jamaica Labour Party lost the General Elections and things were pretty bleak for the JLP in the parish, with Robert Montague then the only representative of the JLP in elected office. Montague, he said, was trying to build back the JLP’s fortunes and thought he could do so with a certain calibre of people like the Crearys (Don and his brother Richard).
(A handshake and congratulations, from the Governor General)
Richard Creary says although he was at first reluctant to go into representational politics to serve people, he was born into a family of service and one also supportive of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). His father was a founding member of the JLP and he remembered early in life meeting Alexander Bustamante and also seeing his family visited at their Port Maria home by JLP Leaders and Prime Ministers including Bustamante, Hugh Shearer and Edward Seaga, as well as other leading lights in the party.
He was first elected as councillor for the Richmond Division in June 2003. He served as Deputy Mayor from 2003 to 2007 and as Mayor and chairman of the SMMC from 2007 to 2012, and then again from 2016 to 2024.
It has been mostly satisfying for him, seeing positive changes he has been able to help happen for people. But he admitted there were bad times.
“Sometimes the level of ingratitude from persons you assist is hard to take. Sometimes they will even curse you,” as if you did not help them, he said. He said it also hurts when one cannot get the resources to help people in need. But his service and how it has been received have mostly been positive. “The most rewarding part of it is to make a difference in the community you represent.”
He said one of the early occasions when he felt a deep sense of reward and appreciation came from repairing the Zion Hill Old Road, which had been abandoned and which a predecessor councillor had said would never be used again. Mr Creary said he was able to spend an allocation of $800,000 to rehabilitate that road, which to this day is used as the preferred thoroughfare rather than the main road.
He speaks, too, of the transformation of the Richmond Community Centre which, following damage by Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 remained in disrepair until 2005 when he started repairs on it. Mr Creary said he was able to facilitate the repairs through funds secured from private supporters, the Universal Service Fund, SDF, the CHASE Fund, and also TPDCO. He said he has maintained the utilities and the yard from his personal funds over the years. Now he’s working with HEART to resume skills training there, which was terminated during COVID-19.
(Richard Creary outside St Mary Civic Centre and St Mary Municpal Corporation in an interview with North Coast Times)
“When you make a difference in the lives of the people, help somebody start a small business and see how it transforms their lives and that of their family, or when you help people to go to school, and they go on, and you see the difference to people’s lives,” that gives you joy
He says helping people secure employment is something he values highly.“I’ve helped a number get employed at the [St Mary] Municipal Corporation and entities across Jamaica…Some have gone back to school, got degrees and stepped up…”
And the work is not done. “I have a lot of other things to be done” in the Richmond Division, he says, stating that now was not the time to disclose details.
“When I was Chairman of the Corporation, I made a difference in the parish,” he said.
He points proudly to the design of the Port Maria Market. “We came up with a design that we should build a market on the first floor and given the location is prime real estate, the plan was to make the second floor useful for shops and offices. That project has not been completed.
He also identified lands owned by the Council but the titles were not in its possession. Through representation the then Ministry of Housing transferred the titles to the Corporation. Those lands included the Market, Claude Stuart Park and the old fire station. That enabled development, including what is now the new FESCO gas station.
(Richard Creary greeted by friend Dwight Moore, at Kings House)
The Corporation also took over management of the Civic Centre building which was under the control of the Custos, and houses the Council Chamber and Mayor’s Parlour.
A move he is also proud of was the establishment of a local development fund from a portion of the Property Tax for the parish. The fund, an idea he borrowed from a visit to Wales, has been in place for more than a decade and assists people starting small businesses through yearly allocation to each councillor.
He continues as Councillor for the Richmond Division
Asked by the North Coast Times about the National Award of Order of Distinction (in the Rank of Officer) OD, Councillor Creary said: “I do my work not for accolades. I am from a family of service. It is rewarding…having been recognized, yes, it is a rewarding feeling. I am thankful, but I am working on behalf of the people, on behalf of my parish. Yes, it is good to receive, but it was not something I aspired to or was working for.”
He said: “This honour is not for Richard Creary alone; it is for the people of my division [Richmond] who have stood with me, supported me and worked with me over these years.”
CREDIT TO PARENTS
He said the recognition has motivated him to keep serving. Councillor Creary credits his parents – father Luneville Creary and mother Norma Creary, who were both civil servants and who ensured that they gave back to the community that raised them.
He is an avid cricket fan and regular member of the St Mary Masters team. “ I still play cricket…that is something very dear to me. It allows me to interact.”
Mr Creary was also a distinguished president of the Kiwanis Club of St Mary, as also was his father. “My father was a Kiwanian, and I became a Kiwanian as well. My mother was the distinguished charter president of the Port Maria Kiwanis. [Kiwanis] helped me to understand how you serve your fellow men,” he said.
His service has extended to national institutions. He has served on the Boards of the Social Development Commission, PetroJam and the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica. He is now a member of the Board of ODPEM.
He describes himself as a countryman. After attending Port Maria Primary, he went to Campion College and CAST (now UTECH) in Kingston and returned to St Mary to live and serve. “I am a countryman,” he said with a chuckle.
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