Legendary Jamaican plans for future years

Edward Seaga in a relaxed mood

by Ross Sheil

Thursday, August 12, 2004

The former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Hon Edward Seaga, paid a surprise visit to the Cayman Islands over the weekend.

Mr Seaga, who is soon to resign as his country’s opposition leader, came to watch his local football team Tivoli Gardens play the Cayman Islands at the Henry Bodden stadium last Saturday.

Mr Seaga has represented his constituency of Western Kingston for 42 years and became leader of the Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) in 1974, serving as Prime Minister from 1980 to 1989.

Earlier this year the 74-year-old Mr Seaga announced he would end speculation over his future after 15 years in opposition, and step down as party leader this November, although he will remain as MP for Western Kingston.

He said: “I am physically ready for everything, but frankly I do not want the uncertainties - politics is not a game you can predict.

“In readiness for the next election, you have to allow for the new leader to be in a state of readiness, so he can be at the helm from 2005 to develop the party.”

Mr Seaga would not name an heir: “I am not going to be involved in the leadership contest. It is not appropriate now for me to take a position, and I will merely pass on the baton.”

Despite his worldwide reputation as a politician, Mr Seaga began his career as an anthropologist, studying Jamaican folk cultures and musical traditions.

Mr Seaga is credited with starting the Jamaican recording industry when he founded the West Indian Record Label (WIRL) in 1958, releasing the music of local artists.

A collector and expert on Jamaican folk music, he recently released a CD: The origins of Jamaican Music which will be re-released in October. The CD features commentary by Mr Seaga, and will be accompanied by text on the project in the Jamaica Journal.

“There is a great deal I would like to write about, and considering my position I have not had the time. I would like to return to my notes and resume my work on folk cultures, and the CD I have released is a continuation of this study.”

He said that he would write his memoirs only after finishing his anthropological writings: “My career has taken in so much that it is hard to undertake such a project. There is certainly much to look back on.”

He was forthright upon the relative merits of his administration (1980 to 1989) and Michael Manley’s People’s National Party administrations, which governed Jamaica either side of his own.

“Jamaica was referred to as the ‘Jamaican Miracle’ in the 1960s and had the fastest growth rate in the world at six per cent. When Michael Manley took power on both occasions he inherited a market economy and turned the clock back,” he said.

Mr Seaga, unlike Mr Manley, did not side with Cuba and instead lined up with the US during the Cold War. Remembering the late US President Ronald Reagan, he added: “Reagan, in my mind, was one of the Presidents who has been greatly underestimated by the world.

“He brought a level of democracy to this region of the world which was unprecedented.”

Mr Seaga believes the immediate future in his home country is bright. He said: “In the late 90s Jamaica was fortunate with the return in demand for bauxite thanks to the booming economy in China, and manufacturing and agriculture are also showing life.”

Reflecting on his career he expressed his pride for Jamaica, adding: “I marvel at the success of Jamaicans who have established a reputation for us across the world, but I must pay particular credit to Jamaican women, who bear such a burden, and are the backbone of our country.”

• Watch out for Friday’s special edition of Cayman Net News when the former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Hon Edward Seaga, will air his thoughts on the Cayman political system and our current economic situation.

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