Paul Williams Journalist Profile

Articles

‘Mr Caribbean History’, Sir Roy Augier, leaves the pitch

2 months ago | jamaica-gleaner.com | Paul Williams

At Professor Roy Augier’s 100th birthday last December, University of the West Indies (UWI) Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles hailed him as “a true Caribbean Renaissance Man”. “What a magnificent ongoing innings – 100 not out!” Beckles said, noting that Augier was a scholar, educator, activist, World War II veteran, and administrator. On Sunday, January 26, Sir Roy was bowled into the ancestral realm at 100 years, one month and nine days.
The founding of the Pentecostal City Mission Church

2 months ago | jamaica-gleaner.com | Paul Williams

IN 1865, William Booth, a former Methodist, established The Christian Mission to take care of the physical and spiritual needs of the poor and dejected in London. Thirteen years after, in 1878, the name was changed to The Salvation Army. In 1887, The Salvation Army began its work in Jamaica,on the initiative of William Raglan Phillips, a native of Bristol, England, who came to Jamaica in 1871. He worked as a surveyor, printer and publisher of the Westmoreland Telegraph.
Ethiopians, others celebrate Christmas on January 7

Jan 12, 2025 | jamaica-gleaner.com | Paul Williams

IN CHRISTENDOM, the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is celebrated on December 25, Christmas Day, which is an important holiday for devout and non-devout Christians, and some people who are not even religious. Yet, in the east African country of Ethiopia, especially by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church, Christmas is observed on January 7, which is called Ganna or Genna, and not Christmas. But, why is the birth of the man who is regarded the Christian messiah celebrated on two different days?
A personal trainer might just be the resolution solution

Dec 30, 2024 | jamaica-gleaner.com | Paul Williams

Published:Monday | December 30, 2024 | 12:09 AM Previous Pause Next It is that time again when New Year’s resolutions are made, and high on the list of what many people resolve to achieve is to lose weight and get fit, for whatever reasons. In the majority of cases, while the new year melts away, the fat and unfitness remain, lingering until another new year rolls around.
The Set Girls are long gone

Dec 24, 2024 | jamaica-gleaner.com | Paul Williams

Jonkonnu masquerade celebrations were a major feature of slavery-day and post-slavery-day Christmas festivities. Co-existing with Jonkonnu bands were the Set Girls masquerades, a more flamboyant and elaborate type of street performance than Jonkonnu. “ These sets have been cited as early as 1776, and probably began in Kingston, and then spread to other towns and throughout the countryside,” Olive Senior writes in Encyclopedia of Jamaican Heritage.
‘Mr CXC’ Sir Roy Augier turns 100

Dec 21, 2024 | jamaica-gleaner.com | Paul Williams

The world knows him as Roy Augier, but he was born Fitzroy Richard Augier on December 17, 1924, in St Lucia. On Tuesday, the man widely known as ‘Mr Caribbean History’ and ‘Mr CXC’ celebrated his 100th year on Earth with a “mass of thanksgiving” at the St Thomas Aquinas Church in Mona, St Andrew. Augier’s educational journey began at the Roman Catholic Boys Elementary School and continued at St Mary’s College in Castries, St Lucia’s capital.
Police and Rastas clash in the 1963 Coral Gardens incidents

Dec 8, 2024 | jamaica-gleaner.com | Paul Williams

FROM THE very beginning, in the late 1930s, Rastafarianism was opposed by mainstream society – the government and the Church. It was a folk religion started by Leonard Percival Howell, a former Garveyite whose philosophies and teachings were appealing to many grassroots people, and so the movement proliferated all over the country, giving rise to Rasta settlements/camps. As the movement grew, so did the opposition and negative attitudes towards it.
Death stalks the Moravians in Jamaica 1754-1834

Nov 10, 2024 | jamaica-gleaner.com | Paul Williams

THE MORAVIAN Church in Jamaica might not be one of the most popular, but Moravian missionaries have been coming here since December 1754. The first three to arrive at what is now Black River, St Elizabeth were Zacharias Caries, Thomas Shallcross and Gottlieb Haberecht. The Unity of the Brethren, as it is known, became a Church in Germany in 1457, but, for many reasons, including years of persecution, it was not able to firmly plant itself.
The 1880 Salt Marsh Trelawny shipwreck Mrs Nicholson leaves her husband eventually

Nov 8, 2024 | jamaica-gleaner.com | Paul Williams

IN THE late 1800s, Falmouth was still a very important and busy shipping port, as mercantilism was one of the things that poked the development of that northwestern town, which replaced Martha Brae about 1790 as the capital of Trelawny, named after Governor William Trelawny in 1771 when the new parish was established on lands that were part of St James. The town, which was built on flat land leading out to the sea, was surrounded by marshland, which was prone to flooding.
The multitude turns up at Colonel Douglas’ nine-night

Nov 3, 2024 | jamaica-gleaner.com | Paul Williams

THOUGH THE strong breeze blew out most of the candles placed along the roadway leading to the Asafu Yard in the Charles Town Maroon village in Portland, it could not keep away the great number of people who turned up on the evening of Thursday, October 24 for the candlelight vigil/nine-night for the late Charles Town Maroon colonel, Marcia ‘Kim’ Douglas. She had passed away on Wednesday, October 16 at age 48.