SinclairBOTH PRIME Minister P.J Patterson and Opposition Leader Edward Seaga have expressed condolences on the death of former Mayor of Montego Bay, Charles Sinclair.
Mr. Patterson lauded the former Mayor for his contribution to the second city in the fields of general insurance, real estate and the distributive trade, as well as in the political arena.
Mr. Seaga said that Mr. Sinclair had the distinction of being considered by both major political parties - the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People's National Party (PNP) - as an "independent thinker."
He noted that after serving as Mayor of Montego Bay (1976-1980) under the PNP, he had been appointed an independent Senator by him in 1983. He later contested North West St. James on a JLP ticket in 1989 and 1993. He quit competitive politics in 1993 after losing to the PNP's Carl Miller.
"His reasoned voice was always respected. His contribution to public life has left a legacy of respect in St. James and elsewhere," Mr. Seaga said.
Mr. Patterson said that although Mr. Sinclair was not a native of Montego Bay(he moved there from Friendship, Hanover), he became an articulate spokesperson for local government and blazed a trail of recognition in the city by founding popular community groups such as The Montego Bay Economic Committee (MONECOM) and the Montego Bay Action Committee.
He said that Mr. Sinclair was, "a proud hardworking Jamaican with traditional Christian values, who never found any difficult in saying what was on his mind."
He also said that it was under Sinclair's stewardship that the city earned the title "The Friendly City", in its effort to market the town as a tourism resort.
Mr. Sinclair was also President of the Senate under the PNP in the 1970s. He died suddenly last Friday.
