Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer
THE ST. ANN Parish Council wants Main Street in Ocho Rios to be renamed Edward Seaga Drive in honour of the work done by former Opposition Leader Edward Seaga in the development of the resort town.
A resolution to this effect was passed at the recent monthly meeting of the council and a recommendation will be made to the Ministry of Local Government for its final approval.
The resolution which was piloted by Mayor of St. Ann's Bay, Delroy Giscombe, noted that it was Mr. Seaga, who as Minister of Development and Welfare in 1967, initiated the reclamation of the Ocho Rios Waterfront and the establishment of the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) to undertake resort development in the town.
Mayor Giscombe said that since then, Ocho Rios has grown from a small fishing village to one of the fastest developing resort towns in the Caribbean.
He said that no other politician in Jamaica can match the work done by Mr. Seaga and that it is only fitting that Main Street, where most of the development has occurred, be renamed in his honour. "I believe he is worthy of such an honour," the Mayor argued.
Deputy Mayor Sydney Stewart said he fully supported the renaming of Main Street in honour of Mr. Seaga, and that the Ocean Village Shopping Centre in the resort town should also be renamed the Edward Seaga Shopping Centre.
But PNP councillor for the Ocho Rios division, Carol Jackson, objected to the resolution on the basis that all towns across the island have a Main Street and that a similar standard should be maintained in Ocho Rios.
The resolution was passed with the JLP recording eight votes, three PNP members voted against the resolution and two abstained.
