Stephen Williams ensures everybody can cross it - Traffic warden keeping people safe for nearly 30 years

Nearly 30 years ago, Stephen Williams started his journey as a traffic warden and he still dons his white jacket with the same pride as he did on his first day on the job.

"This is a very good job to me over the years. It helps to provide for me and the family," said Williams, who is the warden at the St Catherine Primary School in Spanish Town.

When THE STAR spoke with Williams last week, he was overjoyed that the new school year was starting today. He said he was looking forward to going full throttle on the job.

"I am very glad to see the children again. During the pandemic I still came out, but it was not as busy," Williams said. THE STAR observed Williams providing safe passage to students, teachers and visitors at the school's recent orientation day exercise. His glee at wearing the white coat and hoisting the red and white stop sign was evident.

'I LOVE MY JOB'

"I am very excited to see that the children are returning, as I really love my job," Williams said. "This is my life, as I started it from 1994. I am now seeing students from then have now become parents, so it means a great deal to me." He said that in order to supplement his earnings, he indulges in bee-keeping, but it is not as fulfilling.

"Let me tell you, the fulfilment to me is when someone say, 'Thank you for assisting me to cross the road safely'," he said. Williams said that while he uses his salary to take care of his household, his duties at the school touch the lives of many households. Williams said that the job of a traffic warden is very serious, especially because of the indisciplined road users.

"While you hold up the sign there must be a silent prayer which accompanies you daily, but the challenges come with the job," said Williams, with a serious look.

Meanwhile, principal of the St Catherine Primary School, Nadine Bennett Hibbert, said that Williams is integral to the road safety of the school.

"I find him very responsible, courteous and also professional in his work," Bennett Hibbert said. "He also uses his initiative to assist in the smooth operation of the school's calendar of activities."

Meanwhile, vendor Nathalia Maynard, who sells outside the school's gate, is also happy for the resumption of school, as she expects that her stall will be in full swing again.

She said that the past 24 months were a great test of her survival skills.

"I have been doing this for 10 years, but COVID-19 come mash it up, mi affi move to the market to survive," Maynard said. "When school start the other day, mi still never too sure what to do, but [now] is full speed ahead."