- WINSTON SILL/Freelance Photographer
Fay Tortello (Left) and Jean Anderson, sisters of The Most Hon. Edward Seaga were among the guests at the cocktail reception for him to mark his retirement from active politics, held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on Tuesday, January 18.
Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer
FOR THOSE in the know, Edward Phillip George Seaga's departure from the political sphere was pretty much an open secret. Nevertheless, when word of his actual resignation was noised abroad, it sent shockwaves throughout an already beleaguered Opposition JLP, and surprised even those who had actually been secretly clamouring for his resignation and or retirement.
Mind you, his resignation did find consensus among his detractors and supporters alike, in that they all hailed it as a historic occasion, his last appearance in the House of Representatives, a must attend.
And so, on Tuesday January 18, it was standing room only, in the visitors' gallery of Gordon House, as friends supporters and well-wishers all packed into Parliament, to attend at the historic sitting, that saw the regions longest serving elected Parliamentarian make his final address.
My dears, they came from all walks of life! Family, friends, supporters, the business community, socialites, colleagues and allies, but mostly, his political constituents of West Kingston the latter in a somewhat sombre but defiant mood!
And so, after some 43 years of yeoman's service to his country and his constituents, Edward Seaga, vilified and demonised by his political detractors and competitors, was being lauded by his parliamentary colleagues as a paragon of virtue and all things upstanding! Dears, it was Shakespearean and Machiavellian theatre at its very best!
POLITICAL ENEMIES
To be sure, Mr. Seaga, has earned his fair share of political enemies and has most certainly incurred the wrath of his detractors in his principled approach to governance and accountability. But nowhere in his history of service and institution building is there any record that would remotely justify, the crucifixion that was bestowed upon him, and in so doing, made of him the bogey man of Jamaican politics!
Yes, rational minds can, and will differ. Very sadly however, a life of service was trampled upon in a vile and vulgar manner, (that would have caused lesser mortals to wilt), but made much more so, due to the systematic process of demonisation and vilification that attended his political service to this country.
And so, strangely enough, it was as if Edward Seaga's last Parliamentary outing provided his political colleagues and opponents with a kind of day of atonement, and they did in lavish praise and commendations. Even stranger still, was the fact that members of the governing party (his opponents), rang true in their testimonials/tributes to the Parliament, save and except a notable few from his own benches.
When Mr. Seaga, took the microphone however, following on the very emotionally defiant delivery by his protégé 'Babsy' Grange, it then became clear to all that his presentation had that air of finality to a process that was set in motion some time earlier. There was nary a dry eye in the visitors' gallery, everywhere one looked one saw grown men, teens, adults, faultlessly dressed ladies, and some vociferous constituents all choking up and or damming tears. One particular constituent, as incontrollable as she was vitriolic in spewing venom at those members of her beloved JLP, who she thought had done the et tu!
RIVETING MOMENTS
Sweet-things, it all made for some terribly touching and riveting moments.
Accolades and commendations out of the way, the retiring Opposition and JLP Leader, was fêted by his fellow parliamentarians at Gordon House, before moving on the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, where friends, colleagues and party officials were hosting him at cocktail do!
Dears, y'all can't say you heard it here, but on the life of this here Mont Blanc, this was indeed, the saddest 'party' this here writer has ever attended (and dovecakes, there have been many). In fact, it was more than sad, it was haunting, as the spectre of a Edward Seaga's imminent departure from the political arena, hung like a foreboding ghost over the august gathering, gathered together in his name to toast him and his years of service, achievements and contribution.
The pall of gloom was lifted however, the minute he and wife Carla Seaga, stepped out of the elevator and into the Talk-Of-The-Town 18th floor of the hotel to the welcoming chorus of: 'For He's A Jolly Good Fellow', as guests welcomed him to their reception in choral mode!
Dears, amidst the tears, hugs, handshakes, and warm embraces, this here writer found it a trifle difficult to remain a dispassionate observer, and so overcome with the emotion of it all, lift the flood gates and allowed the tears to flow, and so they did!
Oh, what a day! What a night! Oh, what an occasion! In a word - memorable! Sweet-things, amidst the sips and spills, the tears of relief and joy, the celebration of a life of dedicated public service and its immense contribution, came the realisation that indeed, it was a day spent in the company of a great Jamaican!
Fare ye well, Edward Seaga! Fare ye well!
Among the Parliamentarians toasting the legendary parliamentary icon were: House Speaker MP Michael Peart; Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies; Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips; Transport Minister Robert Pickersgill; Local Government and Works Minister Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller; Information Minister Senator Burchell Whiteman; Labour Minister Horace Dalley; Junior Ministers Errol Ennis and Fitz Jackson; Government MP Charles Learmond; Senator Bruce Golding and wife Lorna Golding; Senator Shirley Williams; Senator Prudence Kidd-Deans; MP Audley Shaw; MP Derrick Smith; MP Pearnell Charles; MP Karl Samuda; MP Babsy Grange; MP Dr. Ken and wife Vilma Baugh; and MP Clive Mullings. Also out were: his sisters, Mrs. Jean Anderson and Mrs. Fay Tortello; his former wife Mitsy Seaga and their son Christopher Seaga; Hon. Maurice Facey; Hon. John Issa and his twin daughters Zein Nakash and Muna Issa; William McConnell; Hon. Robert MacMillan; Chris Bovell; Dr. Mavis Gilmour-Petersen; Ryan Peralto; Dr. Joyce Robinson; Professor Errol Morrison; Rev. Herro Blair; Albert Seaga; Arthur 'Toro' Zaidie; Dr. Henry Lowe; Desmond and Beverly Levy;
Sonia Taylor; Ed McKie; Enid Bennett; Danville Walker; George and Lola Ramocan; Harold Brady; Dorothy Carter-Bradford; Joe and Clare McPherson; Allie McNab; Barbara Blake-Hanna; plus several scores more.
And of the memories and or testimonials dedicated to Edward Phillip George Seaga, that will sit in the mind of this writer, was one not heard in the swell of the house of Parliament or at toast at the Pegasus Hotel, to wit: "I was taught to hate him. And I did! I was schooled into thinking he was the bane of evil, and I did! But in working with him, I learnt he was an honourable, decent human being, whose primary concern and motivation, was the upliftment and betterment of the Jamaican people."
Dear readers, I concur, with these sentiments, expressed in the lounge of Gordon House, on January 18 by a sitting MP and member of the governing PNP!
