Goodbye, 'Danny'
Published:Wednesday | January 12, 2011 | 12:00 AM
Former PNP general secretary mourned by parliamentary colleagues, friends
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
The parliamentarian who entertained both political rivals and colleagues in Gordon House with his spirited heckling for the better part of two decades has died.
Donald 'Danny' Buchanan, the former member of parliament for South West St Elizabeth, succumbed to colon cancer yesterday morning.
A trade unionist by profession, Buchanan arrived in Parliament after a memorable victory in the weathervane seat of South West St Elizabeth during the February 1989 general election.
In his tribute, Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who has delighted the House of Representatives in sparring encounters with Buchanan on numerous occasions, described the late politician as a lifelong public servant.
"Mr Buchanan was a stalwart of that brotherhood of legislators who caught the fire of public service from a very early age and who devoted their energies to nation building throughout their lives," declared Golding.
"His reputation as a valuable team member was renowned, as he earned a place in the Cabinets of three former prime ministers," Golding remarked.
Buchanan, armed with colourful language and a disarming smile, was an unapologetic loyalist of Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller.
Simpson Miller described Buchanan as a mentor and friend to her from her initial foray into politics in the 1970s.
"... We remained close friends and colleagues for the entire period up to his death.
"I respected and admired his stridency and passion in advocating for and on behalf of the poor, disadvantaged and underprivileged.
Added Simpson Miller: "I am deeply saddened by the death of Danny, who served our nation and party with great distinction for over half a century," declared the opposition leader.
Heather Robinson remembers well the sharp tongue of Buchanan.
"When I think of 'Danny Buck', I hear the words 'Hear! Hear!'' (a favourite expression of Buchanan's)," declared Robinson, who served with him in the House during the 1990s.
"And so I salute his life by saying, 'Hear! Hear!'"
Buchanan remained unbeaten and kept rivals on their toes in Parliament until 2007 when he retired from representational politics.
He had many fiery exchanges with then Jamaica Labour Party leader, Edward Seaga, and his successor, Golding, as well as Mike Henry and Derrick Smith.
Jocular and biting at the same time, Buchanan gave as good as he got in the cut and thrust of parliamentary activities, earning a reputation for his ready quips and repartee.
Another phrase made famous or infamous by Buchanan was 'Rubbish!', as he forcefully dismissed comments by his political foes.
On the political hustings, Buchanan elicited laughter from friends and foes with his "Lie, dem lie" pronouncement during the last general election campaign.
No real grudges
But politician-turned-statesman Burchell Whiteman recalls that while Buchanan had a reputation for being a heckler, he was always respectful and bore no real grudges.
"He was a very loyal friend and colleague and an excellent member of parliament, to boot," declared Whiteman, who served as minister of education at the same time Buchanan was in the P.J. Patterson Cabinet.
"He displayed no arrogance, despite his reputation as a heckler in Parliament."
Asked once about his propensity to heckle at the drop of a hat, Buchanan boasted, "I am a student of history, so I remember everything."
Indeed, Buchanan was a throwback to earlier times, being one of two parliamentarians who came to the House clad in kareba suits, a trendy apparel of 1970s PNP supporters and loyalists.
Ben Clare, who predeceased Buchanan, was the other parliamentarian who refused to discard his kareba suits.
Despite her position on the opposing benches, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange was one parliamentarian who always seemed to attract Buchanan's attention in a curiously favourable way.
Amid the frequent noisy crosstalk, one of his favourite comments to her was: "Babsy, don't follow dem."
Grange agrees that Buchanan was complimentary to her.
"As caustic as he could be in a humorous way, he displayed a warmth toward me that gave me the feeling he was being protective," said Grange, the current minister of youth, culture and sports.
"We had that rapport. Perhaps it was because I was the opposition spokesperson on information when he was information minister and we had to discuss matters," Grange added.
Buchanan's crowning moment came four years ago in the twilight of his political career when he was elected general secretary to steady the PNP, which had been rocked by the Trafigura scandal.
But as a member of Government, Buchanan made his name in the records of Parliament as a senior government minister in the P.J. Patterson and Portia Simpson Miller administrations.
He was minister of labour and social security between 2000 and 2002, and minister of water and housing between 2002 and 2006, as well as a member of the Electoral Advisory Committee and then the Electoral Commission of Jamaica.
He leaves behind his wife Dorothy and seven children.
- The People's National Party has opened a condolence book in memory of its former general secretary and Cabinet minister, Donald Buchanan, at its headquarters at 89 Old Hope Road.
- Members of the public can sign the book from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- The funeral for Buchanan will take place at the St Peter's Anglican Church in Pedro Plains, St Elizabeth, on Friday, January 21 at 10 a.m. Interment follows in the family plot at Little Park.