My Fellow Jamaicans:
As Chairman of the St. James Municipal Corporation and Mayor of Montego Bay, I am proud to join in celebrating today, Friday May 28, 2021 as
Day in the parish of St. James. This is the first observation of the day in honour of the late former Jamaican Prime Minister who served our country for well over 50 years politics and the public service.
As the first citizen of Montego Bay, I must state that the observation of this day is a tribute to a great Jamaican leader and I must thank my fellow Councillors and the various Municipalities across Jamaica for supporting the resolution to have this day officially designated in honour of Mr. Seaga.
I must particularly thank Senator Councillor Charles Sinclair and Councillor Everes Coke who proposed and seconded the resolution respectively in the St. James Municipal Corporation in 2019, shortly after the passing of Mr. Seaga, paving the way for the day to be officially declared.
Covid-19 has prevented the staging of public celebratory events which the St. James Municipal Corporation planned for this inaugural observation of Edward Seaga Day.
However, I want to inform members of the public that once the COVID-19 and Disaster Risk Management measures are eased and Jamaica returns to some form of normalcy, the St. James Municipal Corporation will be staging a series of evens befitting this great Jamaican leader.
The immense contribution of Edward Phillip George Seaga to Jamaica and in particular the development of Montego Bay to include the Reclamation of Montego Bay Waterfront in 1988, the establishment of HEART Trust among other life changing initiatives, will remain as fitting reminders to everyone of a man who was well ahead of his time.
On Edward Seaga Day May 28, 2021, I want to reiterate that Mr. Seaga was a true statesman, a great leader, a visionary, a thinker and a man with the courage of his conviction. As a modern man, Mr. Seaga walked with Kings and Queens but never lost the common touch which made him a teacher, a father, a mentor and friend to all.
Mr. Seaga was a leader of the highest order, one who never gave up on Jamaica and Jamaicans. His tireless work in areas such as culture, sports, education, justice, the economy, music and yes, politics has placed him in the highest rank of Jamaican and world leadership.
Edward Phillip George Seaga is the epitome of a true Jamaican leader. However his work touched many lives across the West Indies, making him a true Caribbean man as well as a champion of regional integration and a great advocate for change to improve the process that unites the people of the Caribbean.
Edward Phillip George Seaga served as Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1980 to 1989. He represented the constituency of West Kingston for 43 years, from 1962 until his retirement from active politics in 2005. He died on May 28, 2019 on his 89th birthday.
Happy Edward Seaga Day 2021…Long live the memory of this great Jamaican leader!
Councillor Leeroy Williams, OD, JP
Mayor of Montego Bay
May 28, 2021