MANY tributes have been paid to Anthony Abrahams, broadcaster and former tourism minister and tourism director. In the 1960s, Abrahams appeared sometimes on The verdict is yours on the now defunct JBC TV. Three decades later, in 1998, this former Jamaica Labour Party cabinet minister would say on The Breakfast Club that he had criticised both the JLP and the People’s National Party. He said that no PNP supporter had ever threatened him, but he had been threatened by JLP supporters for criticising them. Does this mean that JLP supporters had or still have something to address in their approach to criticism? The verdict is yours.

Many celebrated the 124th anniversary of the birth of Marcus Garvey on August 17. It was also the 60th anniversary of the passage of Hurricane Charlie in 1951. October 26, 2011 will be the centenary of the birth of Sir Donald Sangster, Jamaica’s second prime minister in Independence who died on April 11, 1967 after 48 days as leader. Is there a connection between Hurricane Charlie in 1951 and Donald Sangster becoming prime minister of Jamaica in 1967? Perhaps!

On December 14, 1944, Donald Sangster ran as an Independent candidate in the old South St Elizabeth constituency against Burnett Birthright Coke who was then a member of the JLP. By 1949, BB Coke had fallen out with the JLP and ran as an Independent candidate. Donald Sangster was the JLP candidate in the December 20, 1949 general election. Sangster beat Coke by 48 votes.

By 1955 BB Coke was the People’s National Party candidate. With his personal popularity and the PNP votes combined, BB Coke defeated Sangster in that same election that the PNP won for the first time and Norman Manley became chief minister. However, two vacancies came up because of legal action.

Between 1949 and 1955, Percival Broderick (senior) was a PNP MHR for Northern Clarendon. Incidentally, both of Broderick’s sons joined the JLP. Percival Broderick (junior), now deceased, was a former minister of agriculture, and Laurie Broderick is a sitting member of parliament for a Clarendon constituency.

Rose Leon was chairman of the JLP, member of the House of Representatives for Western St Andrew between 1949 and 1955. She was Jamaica’s first minister of health (1953-55). Incidentally, Rose Leon joined the PNP in 1966, was deputy mayor of Kingston between 1971-72 and minister of local government in the Michael Manley-led PNP government between 1972 and 1976.

Percival Broderick lost his Clarendon seat in 1955 to the JLP’s George Perrier. Broderick took legal action against Rose Leon. He was able to prove to the court that he did nothing irregular in the distribution of relief supplies in his constituency after the 1951 hurricane. And further, he proved that utterances by Rose Leon caused him to lose his seat to the JLP’s George Perrier.

Rose Leon was found guilty of libel and disqualified from sitting in the House for five years. Also, George Perrier, the MHR for North Clarendon, was disqualified because the libel took place on his platform. Donald Sangster was chosen to run for the JLP in the by-election for the Clarendon seat when Perrier was disqualified.

In the December 1955 by-election, Donald Sangster defeated the PNP’s Percival Broderick and became an MHR once again. Here are some the facts in chronological order:

(1) Had there been no hurricane there would have been no distribution of hurricane relief supplies.

(2) Had there been no hurricane relief supplies there would have been no libel.

(3) Had there been no libel on his platform, Perrier would not have been disqualified.

(4) Had Perrier not been disqualified there would not be a by-election in Northern Clarendon.

(5) Had there been no by-election in Northern Clarendon, Donald Sangster would not have returned to the House of Representatives in December 1955.

Sangster was re-elected in the same Clarendon constituency, or part thereof, in 1959, 1962 and 1967, hence the possible connection between the passage of Hurricane Charlie in 1951 and Donald Sangster becoming prime minister in 1967.

Question for those who know the details of the JLP annual conference of 1960: Had Sangster not been elected in that 1955 by-election which had its roots in Hurricane Charlie of 1951, would he ever have become prime minister or would either Robert Lightbourne or Clem Tavares have been chosen instead? Again, the verdict is yours.

Were there a lot of summer school rackets again this summer? Barry G implied as much a month ago on Mello FM and I also got similar reports although it was denied in one instance. When Burchell Whiteman and later Maxine Henry-Wilson were ministers of education, they said on radio and television that summer school was not compulsory. I did not hear Minister Andrew Holness make a similar statement in July this year. Is that because Holness did not say so or because I did not hear the newscast? Once again, the verdict is yours.

ekrubm765@yahoo.com