GEORGE HENRY, STAR Writer

Centenarian David Butler is surrounded by (from left), his daughter Gloria and great grandsons Kristofe Smart and Bradley Thompson. - George Henry

David Butler is now 101 years old. He reached this milestone on August 11 and celebrated it with members of his family at his home at Ritchies in North West Clarendon.

Butler was born in 1907 to Elwileena and James Butler in the constituency where he currently resides. He told THE STAR that his father hailed from the parish of St Elizabeth, while his mother hailed from Farm in Clarendon.

The centenarian is the only member of his family to live for over 100 years and is the only one of seven children still alive. His father lived for 95 years, but it is not clear at what age his mother died, though she did not live to be 100.

"I am glad that I live to see over 100 years, though not in the best of health. I cannot see; and that is the only thing which makes me worry the most. Sometimes it makes me feel downcast. But I have to stop worrying because younger than I are blind. Even my father lost his sight before he died," noted Mr Butler.

In addition to losing his sight, the senior citizen who ceased being active over six years ago, pointed out that he has a problem with his liver, but that as far as he is aware, he does not suffer from any other major illness.

He noted that he was a small farmer who was also a member of the local coffee board in the Ritchies area. Butler, who also served as a District Constable at the Spaldings Police Station, said he worked with the police force for over 20 years. He described his years in the service as wonderful, saying that he enjoyed providing security while upholding law and order in the communities in which he was assigned.

"I liked serving as a District Constable during that time. When you compare it with today it was much better. When I served you could go anywhere during the night as a District Constable and don't have to think that you were going to be gunned down. I never even carried a gun in those days; we only carried a baton," explained Mr Butler.

He added that though he had only a baton to carry around, he was not fearful of bad men. Butler noted that if he was offered to serve in the same capacity again he would have to think twice, as we are now living in different times. He also recalled that wrongdoers in his time did not take much chance with him, as he was a no-nonsense constable.

As for the days when he did farming, Butler noted that he was one who planted several crops. He listed crops such as ginger, yellow yam, Irish potato, banana, coffee and cane as some of what he produced.

Mr Butler made no bones about him being a lover of mozella yam. Though he ate yellow yam, he pointed out that mozella was his favourite. He enjoyed good servings of St Vincent yam, cornmeal dumplings, cornmeal porridge, pork, fish and goat as well as cow and pig head soup made with gungo peas. The food he ate in his time, according to him, had no fertiliser.

Mr Butler explained that children in Jamaica these days are not being brought up properly, when compared to the days when he was growing up. He stated that when children did anything wrong in his days, parents did not 'spare the rod'; and were quick to put a few lashes over the backs.

The father of 13 is disappointed with the way in which some of today's parents are growing their children. He is of the view that most parents are not doing a good job, as there are far too many young parents who are now grandparents.

His daughter Gloria, said her father was a disciplinarian. She noted that she and her siblings were not allowed to leave home at nights. If this was done, she said they had to hide when returning.