- Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
Denise Eldemire-Shearer, widow of late former Prime Minister Hugh Shearer, is flanked by Mr. Shearer's sons Lance (left) and Howard (second right) as well as her brother Dr. Barney Eldemire. The family was present during yesterday's special joint sitting of Parliament to accept tributes in honour of the life and work of the former Prime Minister.
Leonardo Blair, Staff Reporter
EVERYONE WHO got the chance, placed their patch on the quilt of tributes celebrating the life and work of the late former Prime Minister Hugh Lawson Shearer in the House of Representatives yesterday.
Despite the symbolic black and white attire of the political audience and invited guests to the special joint sitting of Parliament, every tribute made to Mr. Shearer's life, even those which sometimes disagreed with his political decisions, agreed that he was 'a fine human being,' and it was a pleasure to have known him.
"This supreme legislative body of our land has the responsibility to record for posterity, our appreciation of a colleague, a friend, and elder statesman and above all, a fine human being," said Prime Minister P.J. Patterson in one of 23 tributes.
"What a magnificent Jamaican was Hugh Shearer," said Opposition Spokesman on Finance Audley Shaw. "He served his country faithfully in many capacities. In all capacities, he served with honour, with dignity and with excellence."
Opposition Leader Edward Seaga, in his tribute, made certain that Jamaica would not soon forget the man whose work with trade unions earned respect for Jamaican workers and their well-being. "Hugh Shearer's concerns went far beyond the bargaining table. He saw the worker not as a mere factor of production but as a member of society at large," he said. "He was an unrepentant crusader for the education and training of trade union members."
A BIG MAN
"He was a big man who stood up to the biggest and the baddest," said Opposition Senator Anthony Johnson.
Local Government Minister Portia Simpson Miller remembered Mr. Shearer as a close adviser and confidante who helped her immensely during her stint as Minister of Labour.
"One could not help but to admire a certain graciousness and generosity of spirit that characterised Jamaica's youngest Prime Minister," said Minister of Water and Housing Donald Buchanan.
Senator Dwight Nelson, who took over from Mr. Shearer as the president of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions (JCTU), said, "In the trade union movement the example of the life of Hugh Shearer will be the standard of measurement by which we will judge our success or failure."
Others who made tributes to Mr. Shearer's life included JLP Senator Rudyard Spencer; Minister of Finance Dr. Omar Davies; House Leader Dr. Peter Phillips; Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Transport and Works and Deputy JLP leader Mike Henry. Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, who was also scheduled to make a tribute, was absent.
Condolence books are still open at Jamaica House, the Prime Minister's Office in Montego Bay, the headquarters of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and the Jamaica Missions overseas.
Mr. Shearer's funeral will he held at the Holy Trinity Cathedral, central Kingston, on Sunday, starting at 2:00 p.m.
