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The usually pristine lawns of King's House were freshly trimmed as dapperly dressed guests took their seats.

The distinguished guests turned out on a typical September afternoon in the tropics to see the installation of Marigold Harding as the new custos rotulorum for St Andrew. She takes over from Bishop Carmen Stewart, who served 18 years in the post.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding lauded Stewart, saying she brought dignity and charm to the job and that St Andrew would forever be indebted to her. He opined that there was no one more appropriate to take the office than Harding, wife of Senate President Oswald Harding.

As president of the Lay Magistrates' Association and a justice of the peace (JP) for 28 years, Harding brings much experience, part of it from working closely with Stewart. Among her initiatives is establishing an office to coordinate and administer the activities of the St Andrew JPs.

The new custos said one of her first goals was to update the roll of JPs and to push for younger members, a way to bridge the gap with the society's younger generation. She also vowed to make her members more visible in their communities.

"If we have better communities, we will have a better Jamaica," she said.

Born in Fairy Hill, Portland, Harding was trained as a medical technologist at the University of the West Indies. She worked for five years as chief laboratory technician at Andrews Memorial Hospital and at the Goldstein Medical Center in New York.

She later became a paralegal, and has worked in her husband's law firm for the past 15 years. Harding is also a well-known horticulturist and floral designer.