TO LOVE IS TO SERVE

By Dalton Hope Hamilton

Growing up in a village on an island of untapped natural beauties in the 1900s, one could hardly visualize the future and the myriad of opportunities waiting to be realized with little connection to the wider world. No matter the era or the location, most children have dreams and aspirations, even if it’s only their desire ‘to be like’ an influential figure in their neighbourhood or town.

My Dad grew up in a fairly large family of humble beginnings, but he was destined to beat the odds. During his lifetime he became one of the most ambitious, hardworking, dedicated, talented and respected civil servants of the Turks and Caicos Islands.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Feb 19, 2024
• ISBN: 9781663259196

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Copyright © 2024 Dalton Hope Hamilton.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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ISBN: 978-1-6632-5920-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6632-5919-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2023924253

iUniverse rev. date: 01/22/2024

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Lovingly dedicated to Dad’s offspring and relations,

his students, the C.H. James Primary School family

and all who considered him to be a friend.

CONTENTS

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Preface

Acknowledgement

Introduction

Maps of the Turks and Caicos Islands

Chapter 1     My Dad: From Whence He Came

Chapter 2     A Leader in the Making

Chapter 3     The Road to Reform

Chapter 4     On the Job

Chapter 5     Putting down Roots

Chapter 6     The Real Dad

Chapter 7     The September 1960 Monster

Chapter 8     Coping in Times of Crisis

Chapter 9     Coming Full Circle

Chapter 10   Dad’s Battles

Chapter 11   The Final Farewell

Chapter 12   Tributes and Reflections

Jabrinia Forbes-Gardiner

Annal Handfield

Lillian Palmer-Bromley

Comonceta Campbell

Clothilda Hall-Gardiner

Winnifred Delancy-McIntosh

Oslie Gardiner Campbell-Grant

Leila Lightbourne

Gilmour Williams

Ricardo Don Hue Gardiner

Barrett James

PREFACE

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Staying at home as a housewife and mother, while my husband and our two young adults attended college and university in the United Kingdom, provided the perfect opportunity for me to embark on the journey that would give a wider audience a peak into my dad’s life. While in Leeds, away from the Turks and Caicos, I made good use of the public library, reading biographies and organizing material that my father had carefully preserved. The more I researched, the more I recalled the many experiences and stories Dad had related to us over the years, and the more convinced I was that the time had come for me to get the job done. In 2008, just over a decade after Dad’s passing, I put pen to paper.

Although this project grew into a daunting task as I progressed, I remained determined that I would never allow all of Dad’s wonderful work and treasured memories to go to waste. I remained resolute that, with God’s help, I would master the challenge even though I could never share all his experiences. This work ultimately came to a successful completion as a result of casual conversations and interviews with some of Dad’s friends and acquaintances, many of whom have departed this earth during the journey. Despite all the intervening setbacks, here I am, almost fifteen years later, mission accomplished!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

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It would be remiss of me to conclude this biography without recognizing and expressing profound thanks and appreciation to all those who provided invaluable information and encouragement during my writing experience.

It was a longer and more tedious exercise than I had imagined. Nevertheless, it was very rewarding, and the experience has been of incalculable value to me. It all came together as an eventual success with the priceless support of my editors, for which I am eternally grateful.

Among those who so willingly assisted me with important details and who I also warmly thank are Lillian Palmer-Bromley, Winnifred McIntosh, Paul Poulose, Sarah Robinson-Kennedy, Pastor Emmanuel Deane, Monica Missick, Clothilda Gardiner, Marcel and Leila Lightbourne and Zennith Palmer.

I also owe a debt of gratitude to the late Emmanuel Campbell, Isabell Capron, Timothy Deane, James Dean, Noel Gardiner, Cecelia Robinson, William Simmons and Pastor Annie Williams.

To Bishop Coleta Alexander Williams III, who, quite unaware of my ongoing project, back in 2014, challenged me to, Go and write. I say, thank you.

To Rev. Dr Goldston Williams, who provided very valuable information, thank you.

To all who so readily contributed tributes and reflections, my heartfelt gratitude.

To Martha Forbes for her invaluable expertise in getting all the photographs posted, my profound thanks.

Finally, sincere thanks to my wonderful family who supported me throughout the journey. To my beloved husband, Clifford, for allowing me to work uninterrupted for many long hours and my darling children Holly and Cliff for their technical and editing skills. I deeply appreciate all of you.

INTRODUCTION

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The conditions you are born into and the opportunities you might have missed along the way do not necessarily dictate the outcome of your future. I believe self-determination, resilience, a good attitude and faith and trust in Almighty God play a significant role in carving the path to personal success.

My father grew up in humble beginnings, like most of his era, but he was ambitious and determined to push past poverty and neglect and reach up to a brighter future. He was always bold and unafraid to speak out. This often got him into trouble as a kid.

Dad grew up to be a loveable and very warm character with a unique personality, full of charm and wit. He even won the hearts of little tots (his name for toddlers) and the admiration of excellencies. He exhibited a deep appreciation for his career and dedicated himself to serving with excellence. I saw him being obedient to God’s command, Love your neighbour as you love yourself and Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

He loved and cared about people and treated them with the utmost kindness and respect, regardless of their social status, religious practice or political affiliation. He was fair and peace-loving, honest and unpretentious. And yes, he was a strong disciplinarian. His whole demeanour, his work ethic and his love for God and humanity have had a lasting impact on me and have helped steer me throughout my adult and professional life.

It is my hope that, as you read this book, you will find stories that will cause you to rethink your attitude to life and work and to the people you interact with daily. Dad established his life on Colossians 3:23 and 24. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ (KJV).

Join me on the journey through the life of a man whose road to success was paved with disappointments and setbacks, with love and compassion, with self-determination and an impeccable character.

Savour the reflections and tributes written by his students, friends and family members. Get to know the man, Teacher James.

MAPS OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS

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Location of the Turks and Caicos Islands

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The Turks and Caicos is a tropical Atlantic archipelago located 575 miles (925 kilometres) southeast of Miami, Florida, and 75 miles (120 kilometres) north of the Dominican Republic. The country is a British Overseas Territory with a population of 44,543 (2020 estimate) spread over nine inhabited islands. There are about 100 named islands and cays in the Turks and Caicos.¹

https://www.bing.com/search?q=northcaicos+maps&cvid=

North Caicos. The island where Charles Hubert James was born and spent most of his teaching career and years of leadership.

CHAPTER 1

MY DAD: FROM WHENCE HE CAME

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Ten decades have brought unbelievable changes to the district of Richmond, in the settlement of Bottle Creek south, on the island of North Caicos, better known as PaPa Joe and commonly called PawPaw Joe by the indigenous villagers. PaPa Joe was of slave descent and one of the patriarchs of the community. In the settlement named for him, footpaths have been replaced by paved roads. Thatched roof camps and houses with drywall and out-of-doors cabooses for kitchens and outhouses, which stood a comfortable distance from the family dwelling, have become a thing of the past. Towering concrete dwellings with asphalt shingle roofs and furnished with modern-day facilities line the one-mile stretch that overlooks varying shades of blue and green water in the lagoon below. One thing that remains unchanged is the cool invigorating easterly breezes that fan the village, bringing welcomed relief from the heat generated by the perpetual summer-like sun all year round.

Richmond, though popularly known for its small productive family-owned farms and tropical fruit trees, was also a major fishing village. Skilled men built boats with timber from hardy locally grown trees and sealed with pitch found along the shore. And their ropes were made of locally grown sisal. Dinghy boats were powered by oars and a staff and, later on, sails. These boats lined the iron shore and were secured by crude anchors a few yards out at sea when not scanning the waters around Middle and East Caicos in search of seafood. Anxious fishermen accessed their self-built boats in the early morning hours by meandering down precipitous footpaths, which ran adjacent to their quaint homes above. The daily catch from our turquoise waters included conchs, fish of various types and sizes and lobsters. This was the main source of meat in the 1900s. When paired with produce from the farm—primarily sweet potatoes, cassava, corn for grits and peas and beans—the catch created delectable and healthy meals for villagers. Many boys escaped to the bay just to avoid home-based chores to enjoy all that nature had to offer. Dad was no exception.

My grandparents, Nathaniel James, affectionately called Boy James, and Isabella, affectionately called Bella (whom I never had the privilege of meeting), had a total of eight children between them. Dad grew up with three sisters and two brothers, of whom three were his senior. As much as I could deduce from him, he seemed to be his father’s favourite and benefitted from more than his fair share of attention. Because of his bold and challenging persona, he was frequently the centre of many neighbourhood debates.

My grandmother, who had reason to liken him to a pig following a Saturday expedition, was called to accept the fact that she, being his mother, was undoubtedly a hog (sow). Instead of strangling the little boy, who was then too young to anticipate his mother’s reaction to his bold insult, she unthinkingly threw him over her shoulder and found herself face to face with a fierce reprimand from my grandfather, who had the task of restoring the young upstart to consciousness. He warned her never to try that feat again with any of his children.

With little else to do during his boyhood years, Dad engaged in most of the neighbourhood boys’ communal activities. On afternoons and weekends, they disappeared for long hours and indulged in and thoroughly enjoyed the simple uncomplicated village life. Swimming in the warm Atlantic waters for