 |
| |
Whose side is Seaga on?
Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Sunday | August 5, 2007
Carla Seaga, Contributor
There is a political rumour mill, which has been very active over the past month and the degree of deviousness with which it is operating can only be because it has a deliberate design to damage the reputation of my husband, Edward Seaga.
It is time that someone speaks out about what is occurring. My husband refuses to do so, so I have decided to undertake this task, as I have been bombarded by questions by friends who have advised that it is time to speak out.
When Edward Seaga left politics in January 2005, he did so without rancour. He left behind him 30 years of leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), and from what he says, over 45 years as a member of the JLP.
I know that his loyalty and devotion to his party and his constituency caused him some remorse, but I know too that when he began to operate from his office at the University of the West Indies (UWI), he was glad that he could begin another life, which is non-political. This gave us both more time with family for one thing, and I found that I was also able to pursue more actively other interests in the private sector. We both moved on.
Bruce Golding was now in charge and not just as Leader of the Opposition, but also as Member of Parliament for West Kingston. The baton had been passed. My husband, however, continued his association with his beloved constituency by retaining an active position in sports. He retained the position as president of the Tivoli Gardens Football Club and continues to hold that post.
Broad range of interests
That aside, I know my husband now felt free to pursue a broad range of interests in other areas which intrigued him. He gave many lectures because he said he had lived through over 40 years of political change in Jamaica and he had a duty to pass on his experience to others. I know that at the heart of this is a passion for Jamaica and a deep desire to see this country move forward.
Throughout the many months after he left the political field, he was entirely on his own and he wanted to keep it that way because he felt that his new position and active politics would not mix well. There are only four distinguished fellows, of which he is one. The others were vice chancellors of the UWI. They have all avoided controversial politics.
With the commencement of the general election campaign he made it quite clear to all that he would not be participating.
That was understood and accepted. However, with the announcement of the election date and the participation by P.J. Patterson in the People's National Party campaign, he was asked to become involved. He again made it clear that it would not be compatible with his position to do so.
One evening, on a television newscast a few weeks ago, there was a news item to the effect that my husband had made a statement which was at odds with the one made by Mr. Golding. The news seemed to be playing it up, so I asked him about it and he explained that he was asked whether he agreed that there should be a fixed election date for future elections and he responded that it was his view that it would not be a good move. Golding, he said, was proposing a fixed date.
Why should that have caused a problem? My husband gave the policy response he had given when he was leader of the JLP. Golding gave his current policy - two positions taken at different times.
However, the result of this, amazingly, was that rumours started that he was not supporting the JLP. The rumours expanded to claim that he was supporting Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.
Edward Seaga is the one person in Jamaica who should never be called upon to defend his loyalty to the JLP. He has made more sacrifices and has been through more suffering for his party than anyone else. Ask his older children about that.
His dedicated service to his party, his constituency and his country robbed him of a normal day-to-day life and it certainly left him without any of the wealth he could have achieved had he spent his time in the private sector. But it left him rich in integrity and with a deep satisfaction of having served his country well.
Healthy respect
Regarding his friendship with Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, this is not a recent matter. They have been close political friends for years, with both having a healthy respect for one another. In explaining this to me he has said that Michael Manley and Hugh Shearer also shared a strong friendship. To my mind, it would be a sad commentary on our political maturity if this could not be the case!
After Portia Simpson Miller became Prime Minister, my husband paid a courtesy call on her at Jamaica House, as would be expected of him. I was with him when he visited her at her home on one occasion. He discussed his Fort Augusta Free Port project for Jamaica, which he had been promoting for years, and the development of a water scheme for Spanish Town, to end the water crisis. At another recent meeting at her home, he made a quick visit to seek her emergency support to avert a crisis in the national football programme.
But the rumour mills now have it that he attended fund-raising functions on her behalf. We have attended no fund-raising functions on either side.
It is Prime Minister Simpson Miller who has made it known that in her position, she feels free to call on the experience and knowledge of my husband. What is wrong with that? Isn't that political maturity for the continuation of programmes that are in the best interest of Jamaica?
Immature persons
She makes no secret of the fact that she respects him highly. I will never forget the time when, on the first day of the Cricket World Cup, the Prime Minister called to find out why he wasn't there. After she heard he had not been invited, she said she had to have him there as he was not regarded by her as just another politician, but as a national resource, and with that she sent her own car for him, which arrived 20 minutes later.
It is difficult for me to be aware of this and to consider recent treatment from some members of the JLP. Many persons have noted to us that the JLP manifesto recently launched contained many of the proposals put forward by my husband before he left. We had to comment that only his ideas were invited, as he was not!
This exclusion could not and would not be Golding's position nor of most Labourites. Just the position of a few immature persons who know nothing of the importance of history and who seem determined to use rancour to propel Golding. These persons are in danger of tarnishing Golding's reputation. But this is not the doing of my husband.
I wish for a peaceful election. We will do much to promote this peace if we take the high road and a mature approach.
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
