EDWARD SEAGA has announced the winding up of a political career spanning some 46 years of distinguished public service.His journey began at age 29 in the then Legislative Council (which became the Senate) as the youngest ever member of this nominated chamber of the Legislature. He was elected as Member of Parliament for Western Kingston in 1962, became Minister of Development and Social Welfare and subsequently Minister of Finance and Planning; achieved leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party in 1974; culminated as Prime Minister from 1980-89, and has been leader of the opposition since February 1989.
Mr. Seaga first attracted public notice with his famous 'haves and have-nots' speech in the Legislative Council, reflecting his formal training as a sociologist and perhaps heralding his transformation of 'Back-o'wall', an urban ghetto into the modern residential community of Tivoli Gardens. His unbroken representation of West Kingston for some 43 years is the longest of any Member of Parliament.
Fiercely loyal to its leader, Tivoli encapsulates both negative and positive images of what Jamaican politics have meant to the social, cultural, and economic development of the nation. Some of the fiercest episodes of party political violence in 1980 have left its scars on a constituency, categorised as a political garrison. Even now, there are still echoes of a 2001 confrontation involving the police and gunmen resulting in several deaths; Government has only recently started paying out compensation to some victims.
On the positive side the constituency has featured in outstanding cultural and sporting activity which has helped to lessen political tensions with neighbouring PNP garrisons.
Mr. Seaga's departure early next year as MP could have some bearing on the controversial struggle for the party leadership. This arises from the fact that Bruce Golding as front-runner does not have a parliamentary seat which he must have to become Opposition Leader. And it is not clear that he will be the automatic choice to fill the West Kingston vacancy.
It remains to be seen whether the party machinery will prevail in the choice of successor or defer to the wishes of Mr. Seaga. A further complication is in the fact that the postponed JLP conference to elect a new leader is set for February 19-20 and Mr Seaga is set to quit by the end of January; which raises the question as to whether the parliamentary group should chose an interim leader. Whatever happens, a new chapter of political history will be recorded as the JLP leader steps aside.
