After life in the Big Apple making new impression in small Trelawny
Judith Scott has always had a passion for helping others and on her return to Jamaica, after spending most of her life living in New York, United Sates, she knew she wanted to work in an environment where she could help develop the country. She had grown up in Portland before migrating to the US and the man who was to become her husband, Lynville Scott was from Trelawny. They met in New York and married and lived there. It was always her husband’s passion to return to Trelawny to retire. When they did, completing their move by 2007, she said her husband used to tease her that she was not ready for the return. She admits that she was not but had to because of her husband. The return to Jamaica was, she said, after all great fun. I must admit we had a great time together, Scottie did everything for my comfort and joy. Whatever I wanted he would do and or give me. It’s almost four years since he is gone but the life we lived keeps me going, the home we built will always be my sanctuary.Now she is adding value to her community of Duncans, having never imagined she would have gone back to work though she knew she wanted to do more community based projects. To help in the community, she took on the role of community development officer for then Member of Parliament for North Trelawny, Dr. Patrick Harris and it is an experience she thoroughly enjoyed.“I really enjoyed working with the community but when I worked with Dr. Harris I realized how much I liked it because I love politics and how much I enjoyed going into the community and assisting persons and, looking back now, there are certain things that we accomplished for those years and I really loved the feeling,” she said of her stint with the former parliamentarian.Included among the projects with which she was involved were the cleaning of drains and roadways, refurbishing of a basic school in Hyde, Clark’s Town, refurbishing and construction of basketball courts, establishing an artisan village in Salt Marsh, assisting small farmers to start chicken rearing business and the annual Back-To-School treats.“I have a passion for helping people, no matter how small it is, to me, when you do something for someone it speaks volumes for them and it gives me a sense of accomplishment to say ‘Well, look I can make a difference in somebody’s life’,” she added.
PETCOM GAS STATION
Mrs. Scott was also actively involved in the Rotary Club of Falmouth where she participated in a number of community development projects in which the club was involved. Among those projects, she mentioned work at the Granville Place of Safety, the Trelawny Infirmary and regular beach clean-up.
However, Mrs. Scott explained that since she took on the task of overseeing the daily operations of the Petcom Service Station in Duncans, and which has been in operation for the past three years, she has not been active in the club.That, however, has not stopped her from continuing her individual contribution to people in the community who are in need. Mrs. Scott who once served as chairman for the school Board at Cedric Titus High in Clarks Town Trelawny explained that she still, on a regular basis, assists school children with bus fare and lunch money.She has also been involved in the mentoring of children. Now, she explained to The Times she is in the process of adopting a teenage girl to be part of her household.The Duncans-based businesswoman is also trying to use the establishment of the petrol station to infuse life again in the ‘sleepy old town’. She anticipates that the continued operation of the gas station will attract more people and businesses to the area.Mrs. Scott explained that since the opening of the Petcom Station, the town is slowly coming back to life as the bright colours of the business have not only brightened the area, but also its late opening hours especially on weekends has resulted in more people being in the town later.
“I see a big change because four years ago Duncan’s used to close at 6 p.m., except for a little restaurant, the town is closed down. You drive through here and you wouldn’t see anybody on the road,” she shared. “Since the petrol station has opened you see life, sometimes I am going home at 11 p.m., and there are still people on the street. Duncan’s has really come to life.” She added.The business which is a partnership among three businessmen, but which, Mrs. Scott has been entrusted to manage, employs 12 full time workers and Mrs. Scott told The Times that there is so much more by way of goods and services she would like to offer at the station, however, lack of space is a major problem.
Outside of selling petrol for very reasonable prices, there is also a convenience store that stocks a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, juices, pastries, snacks, personal items and Devon House Ice-Cream. There are also a variety of car accessories and other items for vehicles.Since the service station was established, Mrs. Scott explained that the business has been growing and she said there are plans to extend its opening hours to 24 hours. Now it is opened from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. on weekends and from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays. On weekdays it opens at 6 a.m. until 10 p.m.She is also a member of the Trelawny Chamber of Commerce.An accountant by profession, she worked for many years as accounting manager at a manufacturing company in New York. Mrs. Scott who is mother to three biological children said she would like to see communities in Jamaica return to their glory days.“One of the problems that I have is the fact that we don’t have communities as I am used to any more. I am used to the community coming together to assist each other no matter how small it is and we really need to get back to this,” she stressed.She continued: “I want to see our young people having self-respect, self-reliance because without that you can’t get anywhere; you can’t sit on the corner and think that manna is going to fall from heaven in your lap, you have to get up and do something in your life and having babies isn’t going to do it for you either.”
ACTIVISM
Mrs. Scott also wants more young people to take advantage of the technology which has taken over the world. She continues her activism by making her own personal choices to build Jamaica.“Because we are so connected with the rest of the world we need to evolve and get connected, you can’t depend on tourism alone. Farming to me is the backbone of any country that is going to develop and if you don’t have farming and you don’t have farmers and persons getting involved in that then you are not going to grow, we need to feed ourselves,” the businesswoman emphasized.“We need to stop importing chicken back and chicken, why do we import pork when we have farmers who can’t sell their products because of the fact that we are importing pork, you can’t do that. I will not go in the supermarket and buy chicken or pork, if it is not from a local meat shop or I know somebody who is farmer I am not going to eat it,” she said Jamaicans need to start consuming more of its local food.Mrs. Scott told The Times that she also wants to see Jamaica take more interest in the education of children. She said the society should be honest with them and not lead them to believing that they are entitled to certain things without them working for it.Much of her time is taken up running the service station and putting energy into Duncans while serving where she can through groups and her individual mission for change in Jamaica.
