Eric Rodney is a household name in parts of St. Mary and a powerful name that is synonymous with community service, agriculture and nation building. Many call him ‘Sarge’ or ‘Major’ because of his two decades of service in the Army.
Born to parents Albert and Eva Rodney on September 25, 1942 in the Community of Jacks River, St. Mary, Eric was one of twelve children for his parents. His father was a farmer and coconut reaper and his mother a domestic helper who sold bread and worked at Eden Park Copra factory to help ensure her twelve children would be able to attend school.
Being the seventh of the twelve living in a two-bedroom dwelling was not the best of life for Eric but he had a good relationship with his siblings; they would play together and share the little they received.
Mr. Rodney attended the Jacks River Elementary school and went on to learn stone masonry with Osmond Morgan. The young man was determined to excel and opted to take on more challenging work with the late Herbert “Butty” McGregor a contractor and builder. Eric Rodney also worked with Percy Robinson who is now deceased, one of the only certified architects and contractors at that time.
EDUCATION TOOL
Mr Rodney believed that education was the tool that gave hope to the poor and could help break the cycle of poverty, hence he did a correspondence course with National Technical School in radio and electronics while working with Robinson. However, because of his finances he was unable to complete all sixty units. Despite his socioeconomic status Rodney was determined to excel, so he acquired a Honda motor cycle and was able to travel within the parish. He then started a course in construction with Benny College in England.
His level of knowledge was acknowledged by his colleagues in the building trades and one of them suggested he could try for Government work as he was a born leader
While heading home from work one evening, Mr Rodney saw a poster seeking recruits for the Jamaica Defence Force. He took the test and was successful. He started his training in June 1964.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Two years later, in 1988, he went to England in the first Calypso Hop on an exchange visit as an ambassador for Jamaica, and had the privilege of serving as guard at Buckingham Palace at the rank of a sergeant.
On returning to Jamaica in 1967 he was promoted to warrant officer class two and was appointed company sergeant major in charge of two hundred and eight five men.
Mr. Rodney participated in several ceremonial parades. He received the colours from Queen Elizabeth II and trooped the colours in Her Majesty’s presence. He was right marker on the visit of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie. He also received the keys to the city of Kingston and Montego Bay and paraded for the visit of Cuban President Fidel Castro and also participated in the Jamaica Military Tattoo.
Rodney retired in June 1984, 20 years after enlisting, as warrant officer class one, appointment regimental sergeant major. Upon leaving the JDF he started to plant crops including red cocoa, plantain, pumpkin and sugar cane.
Eric Rodney has a love for nation building and he became an active member in the Jamaica Agriculture Society (JAS) in 1986; he sometimes deputized for the custos of St. Mary.
His involvement in this organization has seen him serve in several capacities, including organizer of the St Mary Bee Farmers’ Association and first vice president, chairman of security and grounds for the JAS Show Committee, first vice president for the St. Mary Association of branch societies and chairman of the J.A.S show committee for the parish for 17 years.
He has also served as chairman and corresponding sponsor of the Hamilton Mountain Basic School and chairman of his alma mater Jacks River Primary Junior high and a member of the St. Mary Early Childhood Board.
He is a member of the Parish Council’s advisory committee and elected chairman the St Mary Land divestment committee. He is also Justice of the Peace and a member of the Lay Magistrate Association, St. Mary.
Mr. Rodney’s dedication and love for his country and parish have not gone unnoticed he has received awards from St. Mary Chamber of Commerce, JAS, Jacks River Primary School and St. Mary Agriculture Society.
The father of five — Grace, Suzzette, Tameka, Kepling and Wayne – he enjoys playing cricket and dominoes.
Mr. Rodney is concerned about the indiscipline in the society. He believes that it should be compulsory for students at the secondary level to join the cadets. This he believes would instil more discipline in them and it also allow them to become more career oriented. He encouraged the youths to be more disciplined and further stated that discipline is the basic sets of tools to solve life’s problems. He said, to be successful one has to be disciplined and the key to good discipline is to instil the habit of obedience.
