Sinclair wants May 28 to be declared Seaga Day in St James

Western Bureau:

Government Senator Charles Sinclair, who is also the councillor for the Flankers division in the St James Municipal Corporation, will be putting a resolution on the table at the corporation’s next monthly meeting to have May 28 officially declared Edward Seaga Day in St James.

According to Sinclair, such a declaration would be a fitting tribute to the former prime minister, who is credited with playing a pivotal role in the development of the Montego Free Zone and the reclamation of the waterfront lands in the western city.

“I will be proposing that the St James Municipal Corporation incorporate May 28 amongst its calendar of events and develop an appropriate programme in honour and recognition of Mr Seaga’s contribution to the economic, political, and cultural development of Montego Bay and the parish of St James,” said Sinclair, who will be moving the resolution.

Seaga, who died on May 28 in a Miami hospital, where he was being treated for cancer, once lived in Montego Bay for a short period, during which he reportedly developed a love for the city and made many friends.

PROPOSED EVENTS

In his proposal, Sinclair will be asking that the Montego Bay Cultural Centre, in Sam Sharpe Square, be used to host a major event, where schools across the parish will be asked to develop their own activities to reflect the life, work, and contribution of Mr Seaga, who served as Jamaica’s fifth prime minister from 1980 to 1989.

“It would be fitting to honour Mr Seaga with events to include a symposium, lectures, an essay-writing competition, and a quiz competition,” said Sinclair. “We could also look at having a festival where persons would be allowed to recite some of his famous speeches and quotes as well as cultural dances, a debate, and a panel discussion.”

While his resolution is aimed at highlighting Seaga’s contribution, Sinclair believes that in general, enough is not being done to highlight the contribution of the country’s political leaders in nation building.

“When you look at schools in the United States, students are taught almost everything about their former presidents and leaders, but here in Jamaica, our children know very little about our former prime ministers and their contribution to nation building,” said Sinclair.

“Mr Seaga loves Montego Bay. He once resided in Montego Bay in his younger years and developed a love for the city. He played a major role in the development of the Montego Freezone and the reclamation of the waterfront lands, among others, as some of the significant achievements,” added Sinclair.