Senate pays tribute to Perry Henzell
THE Senate on Monday paid tribute to Perry Henzell, co-author, director and producer of one of Jamaica’s first feature films The Harder They Come, who died last Thursday in St Elizabeth.
Opposition senator, Dr Christopher Tufton, pointed out that Henzell lived in the Round Hill area of St Elizabeth with his son, hotelier Jason Henzell. (Tufton is the Jamaica Labour Party’s candidate for South West St Elizabeth).
He praised Henzell for not only making a significant contribution to the development of Jamaica’s lifestyle and culture, as well as setting the stage for the development of the local film industry, but also for creating international awareness of that lifestyle, which has been of immense benefit to the economy.
“He certainly took the Jamaican lifestyle and culture and other aspects of Jamaican life international, and, by so doing, not only did he play an important role in developing a film industry, but also in creating the knowledge and awareness which has benefited other areas like tourism,” Tufton said.
Government member, Dr Trevor Munroe, credited Henzell with “extraordinary optimism and faith” in the Jamaican people overcoming whatever challenges they face.
He said that the lives of Henzell and his contemporary, Chris Blackwell, demonstrated the pluralistic realities of the society.
“We are a predominantly black country, but persons from ethnic minorities have a real and valued role and have played a significant role in the mosaic that is Jamaica,” Munroe said.
Leader of Opposition Business Senator Anthony Johnson praised Henzell’s support for the development of the south coast’s tourism industry.
He noted that Henzell’s father, Max, once managed the Caymanas Estates which, at that time, was extremely important to the local sugar industry.
On Thursday, both Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and Opposition Leader Bruce Golding paid tribute to Henzell, who was born in Port Maria, St Mary but was raised on the Caymanas Estates and attended Jamaica College until he was sent to school in England at age 14.
