Features

'It is the blessing of God' - Mass U

Dr. Patricia Holness (left), CEO and Joyce Brown, Deputy CEO of Registrar General Department (RGD) present a birth certificate to 104-year-old Thomas Sinclair. - Contributed

FOR THOSE WHO want to know the secret to a long, healthy and productive life, ask 104-year-old Thomas Uriah Sinclair, originally from Lethe, Hanover and now, a long time resident of Kitson Town, St. Catherine. He is certainly more than willing to divulge his secrets once you oblige him with your time and ear. Indeed, the perspicacity of his responses will surprise you.

Recently Mr. Sinclair was presented with a copy of his birth certificate, a gift basket overflowing with goodies, soap, body lotion and towels by members of the Registrar General's Department.

Maas U, as he is affectionately called, made his faith official in February by being baptized at the Harvest Ministries Church in Spanish Town, St. Catherine. Bishop Edgar Eason, who showered praises during the special occasion, baptized him.

Healthy lifestyle

Casting aside the fact that up to 30 years ago, he was a heavy smoker, who enjoyed piling an inordinate amount of tobacco into his pipe to puff away, Maas U has practised a healthy lifestyle for most of his life. As a farmer by profession, he never used fertilizer on his produce. "He was very finicky that way," his son Lenford, 64, says, adding that he believes his father's organic type farming contributed to his good health. Mass U has a clean bill of health and does not take any form of medication.

His diet includes little meat. This can be traced to his days as a little boy when he caught fish in the Great River in Hanover using a fishing line made from a bamboo pole. He had to cook and eat it immediately, because there was no fridge in those times to store the fish. He was also considered the best bamboo pole fisherman in his district.

Mass U's family, Lenford says, is planning to have a huge party, with family and friends flying in from all over the world, to celebrate his 105th birthday on December 6.

Family love is definitely one of the secrets to his long and healthy life that he does not have to articulate because you sense it and he certainly basks in it.

Faith

The source of Mr. Sinclair's longevity can be traced to his faith. "It is the blessing of God," he says, breaking out in a toothless smile, when asked how he has managed to live so long. Lenford concurs: "From I have known my father, everyday he has asked God for another day, and God has granted another day."

Maas U's memory is quite sharp for his age. It is almost amazing that he can still recall his family tree in detail when asked. Sadly, he has outlived his five siblings, who all died when they were over 80 and, most of the persons dear to him, which include Agatha, his wife of 25 years, who was 20 years his junior and died 41 years ago and, his oldest friend, Ethel Jackson, his neighbour back in Hanover, who died last year at 96. This is in addition to losing two of his 10 children.

An active man for most of his life, Mr. Sinclair was confined to a wheelchair last year due to pain in his knees and, now cannot see very well to read. However, Lenford says if his father had his way, he would be out in the yard planting. "He still desires to work," he says incredulously. In fact, he still tries to make up his bed the very first thing in the morning, a chore which he has done all his life.