Tributes flow for Custos Stair at HMC meeting
Published:Monday | February 17, 2025 | 10:15 AMBryan Miller/Gleaner Writer -
Western Bureau:
The high regards in which Hanover Custos Dr David Stair, who died suddenly on February 5, was held in his home parish, poured out during last Thursday’s monthly meeting of the Hanover Municipal Corporation, where his contribution to the parish was lauded.
The meeting started with Lucea Mayor Sheridan Samuels calling for a minute of silence as a mark of respect for Stair, during which members of HMC staff, the political representatives, and representatives of the various agencies, organisations and entities, bowed their heads, some seemingly overcome with grief.
Following the moment of silence, Deputy Mayor Andria Dehaney-Grant, who worked closely with Stair on various projects over the years, was the first to pay tribute to him.
“Being the chairman of the Civic and Community Affairs Committee of the HMC, the custos and I would have experienced a good working relationship, and I must say that I stand here today with a broken heart to pay tribute to our custos,” said Dehaney-Grant, who noted that Stair was the doctor on call at the Sandy Bay Health Centre in her Sandy Bay division.
“He was indeed a very dedicated resident of the parish, who only wanted the best for the people of the parish, and so today I am heartbroken, and express condolence on behalf of all the residents of the Sandy Bay division, who I know are all heartbroken as well,” she added.
The various councillors took turns highlighting the ways Stair contributed to improving the lives of the residents of the parish. Marvell Sewell, the councillor for the Green Island division, referenced the many occasions Stair held free medical clinics for the residents of his division; Daren Barnes, the councillor for the Riverside division, spoke of Stair’s affable smile and engaging personality; Brian Chambers, the councillor for the Lucea division, spoke about Stair’s great love for Hanover; Councillor Lennox Fray, of the Hopewell division, where Stair lived, said he played a very important role in the establishment of good health care and family life in that division; while Wynter McIntosh, the councillor for the Chester Castle division, described him as a man of “social and intellectual substance”.
Dr Kaushal Singh, the medical officer of health for Hanover, and Stair’s co-worker at the Hanover Health Department (HHD), said his passing was a devastating blow to the health sector in the parish.
“As we pay tribute and respect to him here at our municipal meeting, words cannot express our loss of the individual. Let us not mourn as if there is no hope, as I am sure he would not want that attitude,” said Singh. “Dr Stair has been with us [in the HHD] since 1997, from the 20th century to the 21st century. He was willing to help in solving whatever problems that may occur in the HHD.”