Reverend Sophia Azan, Custos of St. Catherone. Q: What would you grab first in the event of a fire and why?
A: "First thing I'd grab are my keys to get out. If the door was open and if I had a family I'd save the family even if it cost my life. If I had a fire extinguisher, that would be the first thing. It's just practical."
Q: What was the first thought that came to your mind after being approached by the Government to become the Custos of St. Catherine?
A: "God, you must have favoured me as you favoured Esther with the King."
Q: What kind of music do you like and why?
A: "I don't like Rap, DJs or those youthful music. I like any old time songs, first-class music like classical, I like that."
Q: As a minister of religion, do you think that women have an important role to play in the development of the church?
A: "Definitely. Who God has chosen who is man to say against that? If you notice, today in the church you have more women than men because men are not taking up their responsibilities. For example, Deborah was a great judge in the bible, God used her."
Q: What advice has your mother given to you that you have remembered and applied to your life?
A: "'Never point a finger to anyone because three is coming back to you.' That I'll never forget as long as I live. And always do good."
Q: What do you consider to be the most important piece of advice that you have given your children? (She has no children but has fostered many.)
A: "Know Jesus, when you have Jesus, you have everything. Anybody that comes my way I ask them, do you know Jesus?"
Q: What is your favourite movie and why do you like it?
A: "My favourite show is 'Walker Texas Ranger'. I like it because he's a Christian. I also like 'Golden Girls' and 'Law and Order'."
Q: What are your favourite colours?
A: "I like so many colours. I like black, I like greys, red seems to fit me very well, beige and brown. The older you get the brighter the colours have to be."
Q: When you think of the word Flair what immediately comes to mind?
A: "I think Flair is just highlighting (doing something well)... it's moving on to greater achievements."
Q: Who has been the greatest influence in your life?
A: "The greatest influence is the way I saw my parents work. They set an example for us. They worked to take care of their family in those days and I come from a big family (10 children). That has left footprints for us, because all of us are successful in whatever we've done. The other influence in my life is the husband I had (Emile), he was the perfect companion."
Q: It is often said that life begins at 40, do you agree?
A: "It would begin at 40 if you have at that point achieved something. I think that's why people say that. I think life begins long before 40. Life is what you make it even when you don't have anything. As young people, the struggles are there, but when life begins for you, depends on what you think life is all about."
- Petulia Clarke
