Centenarian Parks enjoys ice-cream and cake

Centenarian Donald Parks is keeping the secret of his long life close to his chest.

Parks, of Fort Street, Scarborough, celebrated his 100th birthday last Saturday with family and close friends, and was presented with a 100th Life Certificate and a hamper of grocery items by Shomari Hector, Assistant Secretary of the Division of Community Development, to mark the occasion.

His niece, Jennifer Parks, suggested what may her uncle’s secret to long life though - pure rain water. She also revealed that Parks has a sweet tooth but has never developed diabetes.

“The only problem we have with Uncle Don is when we don’t provide him with his ice cream. When he calls for his ice cream and cake that must be there. He also has zebapique (a common herb) and it must be soaked in rum and he drinks that. “Right now, we have a lot of chemicals in our food, so I think it’s also the natural foods he eats,” she said.

One of eight children, five brothers and two sisters, Parks, who has no children, suffers with eye issues, a result of past injury, but is otherwise in good health. He takes walks under the guidance of his caregiver, and memorises chapters from the Book of Psalms, and demand his sweet treats when the urge kicks in.