My Kingston – Michael Lewis
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My Kingston – Michael Lewis
Contractor of CML Interiors and Construction
What are your earliest memories of Kingston?
My prep school days at St Margaret's. I had a great time there. My brother Donald and I went there. It was a mix of local and foreign students. It was fun because we had grown up in a sheltered home.
What would you do if you were mayor (of Kingston) for a day?
One of the sad things I hate seeing is the kids on the street... it's heartbreaking. I would go around and take the kids off the road and develop a social structure to help them.
What would your advice be to a first-time visitor to Kingston?
Kingston is a beautiful place and if you're here for the first time, you have to be aware of your environment. Go out and enjoy the city and make sure you ask questions about where you want to go.
What's your middle name?
Michael is actually my middle name. My first name is Cecil. It was also my dad's name and it's my son's name as well.
What cologne are you splashing?
Lacoste.
What was your last bit of retail therapy?
I like shoes and shirts. I buy a lot of Robert Graham shirts and Salvatore Ferragamo shoes.
List some of the places in your black book.
Canada, St Maarten, Haiti, the Bahamas and Cayman.
What projects are you working on?
Presently, I'm working on a home in Irish Town and recently I finished a co-share in Montego Bay with Jamaica Money Market Brokers. I also do a lot of work with General Accident Insurance.
What was the last bit of music that you enjoyed?
I like Beres Hammond. He's my boy! I love his music, but his song What One Dance Can Do is one of my favourites.
What is your beverage of choice?
I'm not really a drinker but I enjoy a glass of red wine.
What is your ultimate home comfort?
The television -- just give me The Western Channel. I'm a TV hog, so my other half Michele and I have separate televisions because I have to have mine.
Whom do you call when you want to vent?
Usually I ring my older brother Anthony in Canada if I have anything I want to seriously discuss. I respect him and I seek his advice in terms of the decisions I make. He's taught me a lot.
When and were you last happiest?
Whenever I go to Negril, I have peace of mind. It gets me in a relaxed mood and I feel calm.
What's the upside of being a contractor?
When you complete a project and it makes a statement and you're happy and the client is happy.
And the downside?
When the client makes ridiculous demands... and this happens daily.
What's the finest piece of Jamaican architecture to you?
I love the new courthouse in Port Antonio. It has a colonial look with modern aesthetics to it.
What's your philosophy?
Anything you don't have control over, don't worry about it.