Voices Magazine Vol3-Issue 1

VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica | April - June 2019 28 Pro-Chancellor’s Tribute to the Most Hon. Edward Seaga, ON, PC The following tribute was delivered by Mr. Richard Powell, Pro-Chancellor, UTech, Jamaica at The Arts in Tribute in Honour of the Late Most Honourable Edward Seaga” hosted by the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport on Tuesday, June 18, 2019 at the Little Theatre. “The heights by great men reached and kept Were not attained by sudden flight But they, while their companions slept Were toiling upward in the night.” From “The Ladder of St.Augustine”, by H.W. Longfellow Today, the University of Technology, Jamaica, joins with all Jamaica in paying public tribute to the Most Honourable Edward Seaga, former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Order of the Nation, Privy Counsellor, former Minister of Community Development and Welfare, former Minister of Finance and Planning, former Leader of the Opposition, scholar and activist. Today, it is my sad duty and honour to present this tribute to the Most Honourable Edward Seaga, mainly in his capacity as the Chancellor of the University of Technology, Jamaica. Mr Seaga served as the distinguished Chancellor of our University from 2010 to the time of his passing on May 28, 2019. During this period, he was a major source of inspiration and a guide to the leadership of the University. He was instrumental in annual meetings of the University and lent his wealth of experience and expertise to all aspects of the University’s work. He was also Pro-Chancellor at the University of Technology, Jamaica between 2008 to 2010, another position which allowed him to offer direction and drive to the University’s efforts as a national institution. At one of his last organized, public appearances, Mr Seaga offered a Distinguished Public Lecture in keeping with the University’s 60th Anniversary activities. In this 60th Anniversary Lecture, Mr Seaga’s presentation was concerned with “The Origins and Development of Jamaican Music”, a subject close to his heart. He was at his spellbinding best, bringing home his outstanding oratorical skills, emphasizing his deep love of Jamaica and Jamaicans, and demonstrating his extensive knowledge of Jamaican cultural and religious practices. For that lecture, Mr Seaga was keen to have students of the University present in their numbers. Using as the base point his “Reggae Golden Jubilee 50th Anniversary CD, Mr Seaga reminded of hits such as “Manny Oh” by Higgs and Wilson, the first Jamaican record on vinyl (produced by Edward Seaga). He also took us through “Wash Wash” by Prince Buster, “My Boy Lollipop” by Millie Small, “The Tide is High” by the Paragons, “Satta Massa Gana” by the Abysinnians, and “Wear You to the Ball” by U-Roy and the Paragons. In the presentation by Mr Seaga, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Dennis Emmanuel Brown, King Yellowman, Michigan and Smiley, JC Lodge, Marcia Griffiths, Beenie Man, Tarrus Riley, Etana, Queen Ifrica and Jimmy Cliff were among others who, so to speak, came to the ball. For each song, Mr Seaga offered commentary, in some instances commentary from his own life. He spoke of Buxton Town, he spoke of Tivoli Gardens and other parts of West Kingston, and he noted that when he was doing some of his research on revival cults in rural Jamaica, some of the people started to call him “a black heart man”. Mr Seaga also mentioned the humorous circumstances in which he came to undertake nude swimming on a beach in a little corner of Negril – an incident which caused one wit to remark that, in addition to his many well-deserved accolades, Mr Seaga had invented nudist swimming on the rock. All persons present at the Distinguished Lecture will recall that, in the midst of the rendition of a vintage hit, Mr Seaga offered the youth in the audience a display on how to do the “ska”: “back in the day, they use to call me “ska-yaga”, the late Prime Minister intoned. Yes, we all remember “ska-yaga”; what may not have noticed, however, were the tears down his cheeks that day as he reflected on his social and cultural experiences among the Jamaican people. As the Chancellor, Mr Seaga was always determined to advance the progress of our University. He made efforts both behind the scenes and publicly to support the cause of staff members at UTech, Ja; he introduced us to persons in the private sector who, Sincere Condolences On the Passing of the Most Honourable Edward Seaga, ON, PC & Mr Martin Henry T he University of Technology, Jamaica community was plunged into a state of mourning and sadness on the passing of our Chancellor and Former Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga, ON, PC and beloved colleague and friend, Mr. Martin Henry, who both died on May 28, 2019. The University’s Pro-Chancellor and Council, President and other members of the University community have joined the nation in the outpouring of sincere condolences and regret at the passing of both stalwarts who were acknowledged as outstanding nation builders in their own right. Mr Seaga was laid to rest on Sunday, June 23, 2019 at the National Heroes’ Circle following a state funeral at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in downtown, Kingston. The thanksgiving service for the life of Mr Martin Henry was held on Sunday, June 30, 2019 at the Kencot Seventh-day Adventist Church. His body was interred in a family plot in Ramble, St Thomas. Mr Richard Powell, Pro-Chancellor Mr Seaga ‘drops legs’ at his 60th Anniversary Lecture on “The Origins and Development of Jamaican Music,” much to the delight of the audience. Cont’d on page 29