Agri sector says good-bye to Abijah
JAMAICANS from all walks of life, led by state and agriculture officials, flocked the 120-year-old Riverside United Church in Hanover to pay their final respects to fallen Cane Farmers Association president, Abijah Bartholomew Buchanan OD, JP, on Monday.
Buchanan died at age 80, at Nuttall Memorial Medical Centre on February 19, after a protracted battle with prostate cancer.
He was chairman of the All-Island Jamaica Cane Farmers Association since 1998, a position he held until his death.
Tributes from Governor General, Sir Howard Cooke and Prime Minister PJ Patterson were read by Westmoreland Custos, Owen Sinclair and Minister of Agriculture Roger Clarke respectively.
The Prime Minister said his childhood playmate was “a true stalwart whose courage and determination we should endeavour to emulate (and one who had) the sustainability of the (agriculture) sector and its contribution to the country’s overall economic activity foremost in his thoughts.”
Other tributes, read and sung, painted a picture of the late cane farmer’s spirit of always striving for excellence, his selfless and devoted service to the development of agriculture, and to his country as a whole.
Buchanan’s life-long commitment to the advancement of agriculture and the improved usage of technology – evidenced by his field research in the propagation of dasheen, which gained worldwide recognition – was the underlying theme of those who remembered him.
In his tribute, the agriculture minister portrayed Buchanan as one who understood the realities of world trading conditions and grasped the concept that agriculture was not simply about ‘growing a little food’ but was a tool for rural development.
Among those who paid tribute to the man who was fondly called “Brother Bijah” and “Mr Dasheen” by his many admirers were:
* president of the College of Agricultural Science and Education (CASE), Hopeton Fraser;
* president of the Jamaica Agriculture Society (JAS) and Custos of St Mary, Bobby Pottinger;
* chairman of the Sugar Industry Association (SIA), Ambassador Derrick Heaven;
* and CEO of Frome Sugar Factory Livingston Morrison.
Vice chairman of the AIJCFA, A C McDonald, delivered the eulogy which traced his colleague’s life from birth in Paradise, Hanover – on April 27 1923 – throughout his formative years, his days in the educational system, and the times he shared with colleagues at work and with his family.
Buchanan is survived by his wife Olga, daughters Audrey and Sandra, son Oneil, sisters Jean Buchanan-Hall, Maggie Buchanan-Coolie, Judith Buchanan and Rebecca Thompson. He also left behind brothers Jesuran, Fredell, Banfield and Owen, seven grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
Three members of the clergy – Reverends Cepha Stern, Benjamin Patterson and Hylton Dunkley – officiated at his funeral service that saw the sanctuary overflowing into a 100-seater tent, fitted with two closed circuit televisions that took the service to even more mourners who stood in the large churchyard.