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Bishop the Honourable Conrad H. Pitkin CD, JP
Welcome to the official website of Bishop the Honourable Conrad H. Pitkin CD, JP
Bishop the Honourable Conrad H. Pitkin CD, was appointed and installed by His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen ON, GCMG, CD, KSt.J as Custos Rotulorum for the Parish of St. James in 2018 – a role which makes him the Governor-General’s representative in the parish. He leads a cadre of over 900 Justices of the Peace: persons of unquestionable integrity who commit to promoting and protecting the rights of individuals and to help give justice to those persons in the St. James community.
At the swearing-in ceremony, His Excellency expressed confidence in Custos Pitkin, remarking that he believed the Custos was ready for the responsibilities entrusted to him evidenced in work that he was already engaged in within the parish.
Custos of St. James, Initiatives and his Support Team
Since his installation as the Custos of St. James, Bishop the Hon. Conrad Pitkin has spear-headed numerous initiatives focused on improving the life of the people. Among these are the Youth Enrichment Programme (YEP); the St. James Police Benevolent Foundation (SJPBF); and the “Custos COVID-19 Project”.
Through the Youth Enrichment Programme, at risk youth are trained in Life Skills. Slowed only by the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, so far the programme has impacted approximately 800 lives. With more persons to be enriched, the energy and commitment of the Custos, Justices of the Peace and other stakeholders, have not waned.
The St. James Police Benevolent Foundation is a very special one because it is aimed at bringing hope to a group that is often disheartened in spite of their heroic work in the line of duty protecting and serving Jamaicans. As the Minister of National Security, the Honourable Dr. Horace Chang said at the launch, ''it is (equally) important for us to continue to ensure the welfare and wellbeing of our police officers. They must be given due recognition during service, and their families provided for in the event they are killed in the line of duty.” This initiative is expected to support their needs in a meaningful way. Reverend Ledger Kellier, philanthropist, contributed JMD$1.5 million to the Fund and in his remarks to the officers he said, “We want you to see this as extra protection that will make a difference when you go out, knowing that we are here to cover your backs”.
Another project worth special mention is the Mustard Seed Children’s Homes water harvesting programme. The Custos and St. James stakeholders provided much needed support to the project with the provision of Water Tanks.
The “Custos COVID-19 Project” began during the height of uncertainties engendered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through this project and in leading by example, masks and care packages were provided to some of the most vulnerable residents in the parish. Small farmers who were among those most adversely affected by the slowdown of the economy, received animal feed to help them through the difficult period.
In distributing items through the various initiatives, the Custos is ably assisted by the parish’s Justices of the Peace who are among his strongest support in carrying out duties as Custos Rotulorum. Other significant support comes from the business community and other benefactors, without whom the Custos could not achieve the goals set for protecting and developing the people of St. James. Much of these goals include mental health acknowledgement and awareness coupled with upskilling and reskilling the people. It is a mission in which he invites others who are better positioned in the wider society, to support.
Custos is an affable, strong leader and one whose faith, fearlessness and commitment to spirituality, keeps him buoyed when tackling even the most serious social issues and events that may befuddle others.
The role as Custos is not an easy one but as His Excellency the Governor-General remarked at his installation, Bishop the Honourable Conrad Pitkin CD is ready for the task.
The Governor-General’s Programme for Excellence
Custos Pitkin is also an IBI Ambassador, representing the Governor-General’s I Believe Initiative (IBI) which is the service-oriented arm of the Governor-General’s Programme for Excellence (GGPE). As an IBI Ambassador, Custos Pitkin leads initiatives focused on its Pillars of Youth, Family and Education – all with the wellbeing of our young people and their future in mind.
The mantra of the IBI is: “There’s nothing wrong with Jamaica that cannot be fixed by what is right with Jamaica.”
Custos Pitkin heads the Governor-General’s Achievement Award National Committee for the St. James parish. Each year exceptional citizens of the parish who are change makers excelling in leadership and academics despite major challenges are selected for honour by the Governor-General.
Commitment as a Minister of Religion
Bishop Pitkin continues to pastor in the Assemblies of God Church. Currently (2022) he leads the Faith Temple Assembly of God in Montego Bay but prior to that and his role as Custos, he pastored several Assemblies of God churches across Jamaica.
The Custos adheres to his religious values, beliefs, and practices and uses them in daily living.
Profile
Date of Appointment:
February 1, 2018
Date of Installation:
April 5, 2018
Place of Birth:
Morant Bay
St. Thomas, Jamaica
Education:
Global University, Springfield, Missouri, U.S.A – MA, Ministerial Studies
Caribbean School of Theology – Bachelor of Theology
Assemblies of God Institute of Theology – Associate Degree in Theology
Professional Life:
Senior Pastor – Faith Temple Assembly of God
Chairman – Caribbean Fellowship Assemblies of God Executive
Member – World Assemblies of God Fellowship Executive
First Presiding Bishop – Assemblies of God in Jamaica
Other Professional Affiliation:
Honour Society Delta Epsilon Tau; Global University, Missouri Chapter U.S.A.
Community Involvement:
Chairman -The Governor-General’s Programme for Excellence Parish Committee
Chairman – Road Safety Parish Committee
Chairman – Western Board for the Errol Rattray Evangelistic Association
Member – Board of Directors for the National Religious Media Commission (Owners of Love FM & Love TV)
Executive Member – The Jamaica Umbrella Groups of Churches
Immediate Past President – The Jamaica Association of Full Gospel Churches
President – The National Religious Liberty Association
Member – The Board of Directors Housing Agency
Chairman – The Board of Directors, Teachers’ Service Commission
Member – International Conference of Police Chaplains
Member – The Committee for the Planning of National Religious Service
Marriage Officer and Marriage Counsellor
Awards/Recognition:
Order of Distinction (Commander Class)
Family Life:
Married to Deverly Pitkin.
Children - 5
References
Official website of the Governor General of Jamaica. www.kingshouse.gov.jm. March 30, 2022.
Role of the Custos Rotulorum. March 30, 2022.
https://kingshouse.gov.jm/custos-rotolorum-appointment-and-duties/
Faith Temple Assembly of God website.
www.faithtempleaog.org. March 30, 2022.
Custos Rotulorum History
The Office of the Custos evolved from Jamaica’s colonial past and can be traced back to the fourteenth century England when in 1391 King Richard II issued the Grand Commission appointing Custodes and Justices of the Peace to assist in maintaining law and order in the counties.
The office subsequently merged into that of the Lord Lieutenancy of each county. Appointments to this position were made by Royal Commission under the Reserve Forces Act, 1996. Each Lord Lieutenant was also appointed by the Lord Chancellor as the Custos Rotulorum or Keeper of the Rolls.
In Jamaica, the first mention of the office appears in the Legislative Council Minutes of the 28th day of July, 1668 in an Ordinance dealing with the Orderly Proceedings of the Courts within the island.
There, the holder of this office was described as the first citizen of the parish appointed by the Governor as his representative to assist in the maintenance of good order and discipline in the parish and upholding the rule of law. The first Custos mentioned by name was Henry Morgan as the Custos of Port Royal during the Governorship of the Earl of Carlisle in 1680. Then and thereafter the duties and powers at various times included:
Custos Rotulorum or Keeper of the Roll of the Justices of the Peace who preside at Petty Sessions Court and being the Chief Magistrate for the parish.
To receive the Sovereign, any representative of the royal family, His Excellency The Governor as representing the sovereign when within the precincts of the parish.
To recommend to the Governor from time to time ‘gentlemen’ for commission as Justices as the parish required.
As a prerequisite, the holder [the Custos] must be a Justice of the Peace and have dealt with such minor criminal charges as are within his jurisdiction.
An ex-officio member of the Parochial Board and in this capacity could exercise very beneficial influence. He was required to attend the meetings of the Board as often as possible.
Required from time to time to visit the hospitals, poorhouses and other institutions including every prison in the parish and to discover any abuse therein and report the same to the Governor. This was aimed at ensuring that the affairs of these institutions were conducted properly.
Except in the parish of Kingston, to appoint one or more polling places at all elections and one or more persons to keep the poll at the elections of the Vestrymen (now Parish Councillors) and the Church Wardens (that is the Church of England or Anglican denomination).
Be the chairman of the Board of Highways and Bridges in the parish.
Custos Rotulorum Appointment and Duties
Ministry Paper Numbered 2, Appendix I, approved by Parliament on the 5th day of July, 1959 and gazetted on the 5th day of February, 1963 outlined the following new procedures regarding the appointment and functions of the Custos:
There shall be a Custos Rotulorum for every parish in Jamaica. The Custos shall be appointed by The Governor-General acting on the advice of the Prime Minister. He shall be a resident of the parish to which he is appointed save in the case of the Corporate Area.
A Custos shall hold office during The Governor-General’s pleasure and shall in any event vacate his office on transferring his residence from the parish (or the Corporate Area in the case of Kingston and St. Andrew) or on attaining the age of seventy-five years, unless specially requested to continue in office, provided that the age limit shall not apply to Custodes who were appointed prior to 1958.
The Custos of the parish is the representative of The Governor-General within the parish. It is his duty, in the absence of The Governor-General, to receive the Sovereign, any member of The Royal Family, the Prime Minister on an official visit, or any important personage commended by The Governor-General who arrives within the precincts of the Parish. It is his duty to receive The Governor-General when he pays official visits to the Parish.
The Custos is the Chief Magistrate of the Parish, and it is his duty to prepare a roster of the Justices of the Peace within the Parish so that there are sufficient JPs at each meeting of the Lay Magistrates Court (previously known as Petty Sessions Court) and in the various districts to carry out the work.
The Custos will act as Chairman of the committee in each Parish that is responsible for making recommendations to the Minister in regard to suitable persons for appointment as Justices of the Peace.
The Custos on behalf of The Governor-General, will interest himself in the work of all voluntary organisations in the Parish, and will ensure that their activities receive suitable recognition on public occasions.
The Custos will meet the Judge of the Circuit Court at the Court House at the opening session.
In addition to the above, Custodes in recent times have served as:
Chairman of The Governor-General’s Achievement Awards Committee
Chairman of the Parish Advisory Committee on Local Government Reform
Chairman of the Community Consultative Committee for the Parish
Chairman of the Prime Minister’s Values and Attitudes Committee for the Parish
Chairman of the Parish Disaster Preparedness Committee
Custos Rotulorum Privileges of the Office
The Custos is entitled to the following
-To be referred to as “Honourable” both during his tenure of office and after retirement.
-To affix a pair of official “C R” (Custos Rotulorum) plates to his motor vehicle.
-To be conferred with a National Honour of no less a rank than that of Order of Distinction (Commander Class) upon his appointment or soon thereafter.