One-hundred-and-three-year-old Sylvester Royes chats with Bishop Ira D Thompson of the Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic while his wife of 62 years, Una, lies beside him yesterday. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

ONE-hundred-and-three-
year-old Sylvester Royes yesterday became the latest of the more than 700 centenarians across Jamaica to be honoured by the National Council for Senior Citizens.

Yesterday, a small team from the council headed by Leroy Aiken, acting parish organiser, presented Royes with a commemorative cup to mark the milestone at his home on Arnold Road in Kingston.

"We are at present getting together a list of all the centenarians in the country; so far we have honoured over 700 centenarians across the island since 2002. We have quite a few centenarians," Aiken told the Observer yesterday.

Sylvester, born May 5,1905, is bedridden these days but is a picture of contentment lying next to his 94-year-old spouse Una Royes who is also bedridden. They have no major illnesses, but for Una being partially deaf and blind, and they pass their days keeping each other's company.

In accepting the cup yesterday, Royes said, "Thank you, thank you very much" and promptly requested "some coffee in there" while lifting it to his lips playfully.

Asked to express how he felt, Royes said, "I feel lovely. Thank the Lord for keeping me such a long time, I praise the Lord for all his benefits".

The couple have been married for 62 years and have no biological children, but the devotion to each other is unmistakable.

"Mi love her till mi sorry fi har," Royes, the more expressive of the two, said with a twinkle in his eyes.
He is also anticipating more years with her in the house they purchased in 1979 for J$10,000.

"I'm going to live as long as Jesus permits me," he said, adding that they "feel no pain".

Ira D Thompson, Island Bishop of the Bethel United Church of Jesus Christ Apostolic to which the couple belongs, in celebrating the moment with them yesterday said the couple had served faithfully since becoming members in 1979.

"In the short time I have been here he sang for us and I got a good handshake. I can tell he is a jolly person, they are clean and healthy," Aiken told the Observer. He said Una will be honoured by the council at a later date.