Caribbean News
Jamaicans Pay Respects at Final Laying-in-State for Edward Seaga
#Kingston, June 21, 2019 – Jamaica – Numerous persons took time out on Thursday (June 20) to pay respects to the late former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Edward Seaga, on the final day of his lying-in-state at the National Arena, before his burial on Sunday.
Among them were Mr. Seaga’s niece, Rebecca Tortello and her children, Maria and Rhys Greenland.
Some of the mourners told JIS News that it would have been remiss if they did not pay their last respects and sign the condolence book on the last day members of the public are allowed to file past the casket.
Angellique Virtue said Mr. Seaga was an outstanding leader whom she grew to respect, based on the positive returns she has seen from investments he made on behalf of Jamaica.
“I grew up in a time after Prime Minister Seaga served, but the stories I’ve heard of him and the legacy that I see today, as a young person, compelled me to come by and to pay my respects,” Ms. Virtue said. She added that she respects the educational initiatives he ensured were put in place, such as the HEART Trust/NTA in 1982.
Another mourner, Chadd-Rick Clarke, described Mr. Seaga as a legend.
“I came to pay my respects to someone who has contributed significantly to nation-building that has caused us to live in independent Jamaica. I am honoured to be living in his legacy… . Some of our roots, some of our culture, were initiated by him and I am overwhelmed by the different contributions he has made over his tenure serving this country,” Mr. Clarke said.
Meanwhile, Gillian Rowlands remembered Mr. Seaga as a visionary for Jamaica and for his help in creating a pathway for Jamaicans studying abroad to return in the 1980s.
“Many of us were studying abroad at the time when there was an ideological battle in Jamaica. It was a time of division and uncertainty, and many of us were studying. After the 1980 election, we felt that the country had been restored to some degree of balance,” she said.
Mr. Seaga served as Member of Parliament for West Kingston for 43 years, and Prime Minister from 1980 to 1989.
The nation is observing a period of mourning in honour of the life and service of Mr. Seaga from June 19 to 22. No public social functions or official events should be held during the four-day period.
Both Houses of Parliament offered tributes in a special sitting on June 19, and a wake will be held at Tivoli Gardens Square on June 22.
The State funeral for Mr. Seaga will be held on Sunday, June 23, beginning at noon, at the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, 1 George Headley Drive in Kingston. Interment will follow in National Heroes Park.
Contact: Ainsworth Morris
Release: JIS
Photo: Rudranath Fraser
Photo Captions:
Header: Persons file past the casket of the late former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Edward Seaga, during the lying-in-state at the National Arena on Thursday (June 20).
First Insert: Ms. Rebecca Tortello (second right), niece of the late former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Edward Seaga, being consoled by her daughter, Maria Greenland (second left), at his lying-in-state at the National Arena on June 20. Others (from left) are Rhys Greenland and Kari Leftwich-Wolfe.
Second Insert: Mourner, Gillian Rowlands (right), pays her respects during the lying-in-state for the former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Edward Seaga, on Thursday (June 20) at the National Arena.
Third Insert: Mourner, Chadd-Rick Clarke (right), pays his last respects during the lying-in-state for former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Edward Seaga, on Thursday (June 20) at the National Arena.
KINGSTON, April 29 (JIS):
Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the outcome of discussions arising from the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) will assist in guiding the Government’s planning for climate change.
This, he points out, is important for climate mitigation as well as building Jamaica’s resilience.
“We look forward to the discussions that will, no doubt, take place. We look forward to the basis of planning for the Government to streamline its investments to ensure you have the tools that you need to better advise us, that the WRA (Water Resources Authority) has the tools to digitise its monitoring network, and that all of the agencies that touch our planning mechanisms have the tools. But we need to know what we are facing, and we’re guided by your expertise,” Minister Samuda said.
He was addressing the opening ceremony for the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) at the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel in New Kingston on Monday (April 29).
Senator Samuda said given the fact that the climate has changed and continues to do so, investments in and collaborations on building Jamaica’s predictive and scientific capacity must be prioritised.
“Ultimately, we need to be able to assess our current climatic realities if we are to better plan, if we’re to insist and ensure that our infrastructure meets the needs that we need it to. I’m very happy that this event is happening… because this is a critical issue.
“Jamaica, last year, faced its worst and most severe drought… and this year, we’re already seeing the impacts of not quite as severe a drought but, certainly, a drought with severe impacts, especially in the western part of the country,” he said.
Principal Director, Meteorological Service of Jamaica, Evan Thompson, explained that the forum aims to, among other things, establish a collaboration platform for climate services providers and users to understand risks and opportunities of past, present and future climate developments, as well as improve inter-agency coordination of policies, plans and programmes.
Among the other presenters were Ambassador, European Union to Jamaica, Her Excellency Marianne Van Steen; Chief Scientist/Climatologist, Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology, Adrian Trotman; and Head, Regional Climate Prediction Services, World Meteorological Organization, Wilfran Moufouma-Okia.
The Meteorological Service of Jamaica hosted the Jamaica National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate Services and the 1st National Climate Forum (NCF-1) in partnership with the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology and the World Meteorological Organization.
The National Stakeholder Consultation is a governance mechanism that guides how different sectors or actors work together to create products that contribute to adaptation and resilience-building. It seeks to create a road map for the development and implementation of climate services to inform decision-making.
NCF-1 aims to bridge the gap between climate providers and users. It increases the use of science-based information in decision-making and operations with the aim of generating and delivering co-produced and co-designed products and services.
CONTACT: CHRIS PATTERSON
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