Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

It was a moment of literary anticipation and a political reunion of sorts, as friends, family, admirers and former colleagues of former prime minister, Edward Seaga, joined him and his wife, Carla, at the Hilton Kingston Jamaica Hotel's ballroom, for the launch of his much-anticipated books. Both provide literary insight and contribution to the ongoing discussions on his stewardship of the nation. They are: Revelations - Beyond Political Boundaries and The Grenada Intervention - The Inside Story.

For many, who braved the inclement weather, it was a chance not just to pay homage to the esteemed former prime minister and visionary, who served his country for some 40 plus years, it was also a time for reflection and yearning for many.

The ceremony was chaired by Hon Dennis Lalor, with presentations by Dr Alfred Sangster and Professor Stephen Vasciannie. The response and overview came from the author followed by presentations of the books by his wife, Carla Seaga, to a number of national institutions.

The occasion was a bitter-sweet moment, because Seaga has long been regarded as one of the most effective stewards of Jamaica and with the country now navigating difficult economic conditions, there were many present who would welcome his any and every intervention - be it the written or spoken word.

Alas, for those who attended hoping to hear Seaga's prescriptive solutions to take the country forward, this was not to be. It was not that kind of party. Instead, the elder statesman stuck to the nature and essence of the occasion and spoke to the gravamen of the occasion - his two books.

It was a most charming occasion. The books are a must-read for students of history, political pundits, talking-heads and perhaps, more importantly, those now charged with charting our forward course. The areas of education and early childhood development are particularly important as it is in these areas that Seaga in Revelations: Beyond Political Boundaries is at his best. He addresses the genesis of the social ills now besetting us and in the process offers up solutions that speak to both their context and text.

In the case of the book dealing with the Grenada intervention, it is legal bounty for law, political, history students, as well as a treasure chest of information for the many who lived through that turbulent period. It brings a finality to the action of those who facilitated the 'intervention' (of which Seaga himself was one of the main architects), but provides more insight and information to further dissect the motives of those who spearheaded it.

In this respect, Seaga's literary contributions are purposeful and lucid and speak to a clarity and perspective of an over-arching vision and end game that sadly is lacking from the national conversation currently playing itself out.

Gladly, if nothing else, the book will serve to raise the bar and the national dialogue in search for national solutions while exposing weakness of the doctrine of pre-emptive political and military action, in a post-polarised world.

But back to the launch. It was one fab occasion, with nostalgia running rife through the venue.

Timely launch

The launch was timely, coming as it does, on the heels of the 25th anniversary of the actual invasion in one instance, and at this particular time in the nation's history.

Sadly, the wisdom of Seaga, gained through years of service, is now counted for naught, by those who could benefit the most from it. And the country, as a whole, is the poorer for it.

Among the dignitaries spotted were Mrs Lorna Golding; Finance Minister Audley Shaw; Security Minister Senator Dwight Nelson; House Speaker Delroy Chuck; Senate President Senator Dr Ossie Harding; Justice Minister Senator Dorothy Lightbourne; MP and former Security Minister Derrick Smith and wife, Karlene; MP Shahine Robinson; Senator Arthur Williams; Junior Minister Andrew Gallimore and his father, Neville.

Also out, Dr Mavis Gilmour; Cliff Stone and wife Joan; Jeanette Grant-Woodham; retired politician Enid Bennett; noted lawyer Abe Dabdoub; Prudence Kidd-Deans; Eddie Shoucair, as well as Allan Kirton.

Also out were: Her Excellency Ambassador Leonora Rueda of Mexico; Raymond Miles Sr; Corinne McLarty; Robert MacMillan; the esteemed Dr Joyce Robinson; Professor Errol Morrison; Madge Seaga; Oliver Jones; Dr Mary Hanna; Professor Hugh Wynter; eminent jurist Richard Small and his lovely wife, jurist Yolande Lloyd-Small; Seragh Lakasingh; Gassan Azan Sr; Barbara McNamee; Sydney Abrahams; Jennifer Lim; Paul Issa; Janet Taylor; Chris Issa; Indru and Jean Khemlani; Drs Dhiru and Laura Tanna; Steve and Karishma Khemlani; Jonathan Edwards; Herman McLarty and wife, Dorothy Pine-McLarty; Norman and Jean Wright; Earl and Carol Lewis; Supreme Ventures' Ian Levy; banker Ryland Campbell; Digicel's Mark Linehan; JPS's Tommy Fakuda; the charming Sue MacManus; Patrick Bailey; Ethlyn Norton-Coke; Ken and Gloria Jones; John Boroughs and companion Judy-Angel Markes; David Mais and Sally Porteous.

We spotted Capt Horace Burrell; the lovely Neryl Wilson; Dr Jonathan Greenland and wife, Dr Rebecca Tortello Greenland; Saleem Lazarus; Kent and Olga Gammon; Hugh Wildman; Patrick Marzouca; Kent LaCroix; Danville Davidson and wife Dr Marjorie Vassell; Kenneth Shaw; Joyce Young; and the lovely Shelly-Ann Curran; the oh-so-charming Jean Barnes, widow of the late Col Ken Barnes in whose memory, The Grenada Intervention - The Inside Story, is dedicated; and the très elegant Dorothy Carter-Bradford, who kept the off-stage proceedings humming, plus a number of others.