Last-minute gov’t intervention saves Blenheim civic ceremony for Bustamante

Western Bureau:

The plan to scale down Tuesday’s annual celebration of National Hero Sir Alexander Bustamante’s birthday at his birthplace in Blenheim, Hanover, was averted at the last minute after the Government intervened, providing the funding needed for the traditional civic ceremony.

On Monday, The Gleaner reported that following a meeting between the Hanover branch of the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), national representatives of the commission, and the Hanover Municipal Corporation, a decision was made to cancel the civic ceremony in favour of a wreath-laying event only.

However, after public backlash over the news, the Government stepped in with the necessary funds, ensuring the full event went ahead to commemorate Sir Alexander’s 142nd birthday. The ceremony included the customary cultural tributes and celebrations.

“I really want to thank the media for highlighting, last week, that we almost didn’t have this function today,” said Colin Virgo, assistant general secretary of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), during a tribute at the event. “Their role in bringing this to light facilitated the intervention of the Honourable Olivia Grange, the minister of culture, gender, entertainment, and sport.”

VERY GRATEFUL

Virgo expressed gratitude to Grange for her support in ensuring the civic ceremony proceeded as planned. He also thanked the schools, community members, the parish development committee, the JCDC, and other stakeholders who helped to upgrade the event on short notice.

This year marked the second consecutive year the celebration faced financial difficulties, requiring government intervention. Sir Alexander, the first prime minister of independent Jamaica and founder of both the Jamaica Labour Party and the BITU, is deeply revered in his home district, where his contributions are cherished.

Virgo praised Sir Alexander as Jamaica’s first official champion of justice, rights and entitlements, which benefited ordinary Jamaicans. He also urged the audience not to take those achievements for granted.

“A lot of what we have now we don’t appreciate, because we don’t know how we came by it, so we take it for granted,” Virgo said.

After the ceremony, Andrea Hinds-McCurdy, acting director of the JCDC’s Community and Cultural Development Services Division, told The Gleaner that this kind of uncertainty would not happen again.

“What Hanoverians, and Jamaica as a whole, can expect is that every year, on February 24, there will be a civic ceremony in Blenheim, just like the one held at National Heroes Park in Kingston to commemorate Sir Alexander Bustamante’s birth,” she said.

“There will be no repeat of this uncertainty. This event holds pride of place and therefore, Hanoverians, and Jamaicans at large, can expect a civic ceremony here in Blenheim every year.”

editorial@gleanerjm.com