By DAVID DUNKLEY, Staff Reporter
100 NOT OUT: Charles Honeyghan, political activist for life. - Ian Allen
CHARLES Honeyghan believes age should never get in the way of one's political beliefs, no matter how old the person is.
This 100-year-old man from Pedro Plains in Black River, St. Elizabeth, says he is and will always be a die-hard People's National Party supporter, but, he says the P.J. Patterson led party seems to be on a mission to turn the country upside down.
He told THE STAR that he is losing confidence in the party and the Prime Minister because of the downward trend the country and the economy have taken.
"Mi a die-hearted PNP, but right yah now dem not doing too good," he said. "Mi woulda always bet pon PJ, but him nah duh a damn thing, man."
He said because of the bad state the PNP has brought thecountry to, he is beginning to think twice and is currently divided over which party his vote will go to in the next general election.
He said from as far back as he can remember he has always beeninterested in politics and has met some stalwarts in that arena. "Manley walk come right ya suh, Busta come outa crossing and send fi mi but mi nuh guh and him haffi come to me and Sangster come yah come beg mi fi vote fi him," Honeyghan boasted.
He was born in Pedro Plains on September 9, 1900. He attended the Pedro Plains Elementary School and recalled that after leaving school he worked with the St. Elizabeth Parish Council at the Public Works Department for a number of years.
The centenarian recalled that he was involved in donkey racing and loved it dearly. He said he owned a donkey which was the champion donkey, and men from other towns like Vineyard, New Market, and Bethel Town, would come with their donkeys and race against his.
Mary Honeyghan, his wife for over 50 years, died 10 years ago. He said she was a farmer and was a well respected person.
Mr. Honeyghan has six children, four girls and two boys. Three of them live in the district and a son lives in the United States. Another daughter lives in St. Catherine. He has 10 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Honeyghan said he has two brothers who are alive and in their 80s. His grandmother, he said, lived to be 90.
He said he used to love all types of food and ate almost anything. He listed potatoes, bammy and pork as his favourite dish, but said that of late he has adopted a knack for crackers and black coffee.
He also lives for some of life's simple pleasures. "Every evening me go up to my brother house over there so to play domino and we eat some food and drink a Dragon," he said.
He said in his early days there was never much killing and it would be the biggest surprise ever to hear that someone had been killed. Things have gone so bad nowadays he says, that when you hear that someone isn't killed and a day has passed its now the biggest surprise.
Health-wise, Honeyghan says he has high blood pressure and has to visit the doctor now and then. He is able to move around easily and has a very strong voice.
"As long as Mass God seh I should live, I gwine live life to the fullest," he said, adding that it was soon time for him to go to his brother's house to drop a six.
