TRIBUTES continued to flow yesterday for Dr George Phillip, executive director of Sandals Resort and a director of the Jamaica Observer, who passed away on the weekend after an eight-year battle with prostate cancer.

Derrick Smith, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) deputy leader, said he admired Dr Phillip’s commitment to his work and his great affection for Jamaica – despite the fact that he was born in Grenada – his honesty, his affable nature and his compassion for people.

“I recall him as a very suave, dignified and well-balanced individual who always upheld good principles,” Smith said. “It is for those reasons that when he was named to served on the Police Service Commission, myself and the Opposition endorsed the choice and gave him our full support.”

Oral Cook, president of the Advertising Agencies Association of Jamaica (AAAJ), said Dr Phillip was held in high esteem by the association.

He added that as chairman of the Advertising Standard Authority, Dr Phillip played an integral role in assisting members of the advertising fraternity in the process of achieving self-governance.

“We therefore wish to pay tribute to this bright and articulate Jamaican, whose outstanding management skills brought success to a number of the organisations which he led,” McCook said.

David McBean, chairman of the Media Association Jamaica (MAJ), hailed Dr Phillip for the indelible mark he made on the communication industry.

“As our members individually and collectively struggle to come to grips with his passing we reflect on the rich and lasting legacy of a true gentleman who was a former chairman of the MAJ and of the Advertising Standards Authority of Jamaica,” he said.

“George was imbued with a sense of balance and with a gentle spirit that made him approachable and respected. We shall miss his innate profoundness and his objectivity and shall continue to reflect on and learn from the sobering philosophies that he applied to his life,” said McBean.