By Susan Smith, Staff Reporter 
Newsome
AFTER A brief chat with Glendon Newsome, it is clear that he is one of the most focused individuals around.
As president of the Land Surveyors Association of Jamaica and business partner at Newsome McCooke and Associates, he seems to measure his time as skilfully as he does the land. Along with the arduous duties of a surveyor, he is also involved in a number of activities which demand time and commitment. These include being the Immediate Past President of the Gymnastic Association of Jamaica, a senior lecturer in Land Surveying at the University of Technology (UTech), and one of the co-ordinators in the new degree programme in Land Surveying there. Yet, he still finds enough time to spend with his family and have a good weekend.
"I work hard during the week so I think you should have some time to play, if not play hard on the weekends," he says.
CONTRIBUTION TO THE PROFESSION
Mr. Newsome's experience in the field spans 13 years. During this time he has made an indelible mark on the profession. His colleagues view him as the visionary who will take the profession to a new dimension
Six years ago, he chaired a committee which examined the revisions for the Land Surveying Act. These were recently approved by Parliament and the legislation is to be passed anytime now. The Act will benefit both clients and surveyors as it will ensure that surveyors attain an annual practising certificate. Priory to this, surveyors had no obligation to undertake continuous professional development. This Act promotes the advancement of knowledge in the field and impacts on the quality of service experienced by clients.
Every sale or purchase of a real estate item, be it a house or a piece of land, should involve a commissioned land surveyor. Sometimes, these are misrepresented by unscrupulous persons. Now president for two years he is committed to maintaining the integrity of the profession by weeding out impostors.
Mr. Newsome co-owns and successfully operates a land surveying service called Newsome McCooke and Associates with his business partner Valentine McCooke. This was established in 1991. So how does he spend his weekends?
Well it seems he still likes to have a field day even on the weekends. As a man who wastes no time, his weekend begins on Friday afternoons.
"I normally take time out to relax at any of the attractive venues on a Friday evening. Normally this would be Cuddy's or any of the other watering holes around town," he said. On Saturdays he takes every opportunity to watch one of his favourite sports, cricket. "I am a very avid cricket fan so, when I can, I go out by my cricket club Melbourne Cricket Club and watch a match in the afternoons." But Mr. Newsome reminds us he is very much a family man so he occasionally throws family parties on Saturdays to get the best of both worlds.
UNDIVIDED ATTENTION
He is married to Charmaine with two children, Karrel and Kaydi-Ann, students of St. Andrew High and Immaculate Conception High respectively. He likes to give his children his undivided attention on Saturdays.
"The day is spent trying to coordinate them in their activities and lending my support to what they are doing because I am a firm advocate of education," he shared.
Some Saturdays will find him journeying to Elderslie, a little district on the fringes of the cockpit country in St. Elizabeth, to visit his parents but the past few Saturdays have found him lecturing in the afternoons for three hours. He worships occasionally at the Haven Hill Baptist Church on Sundays.
"The rest of the day is taken up going through newspapers and attending gym meetings when there are any," he said, noting that he is still very much abreast with the happenings of the Gymnastic Association. "I will sometimes watch TV on Sundays because that is the only time I get to watch the box!"
