THE People’s National Party (PNP) has paid tribute to former Member of Parliament for St Mary Western Vincent “Vin” Edwards, with Dr Deborah Hickling Gordon, spokesperson on culture and the creative industries, hailing him as multifaceted and a pioneer of the Jamaican sound system movement.

Hickling Gordon did not state when he passed but said he died of natural causes.

Edwards lived the ideology of one of the PNP’s founding fathers, National Hero Norman Manley, she said, adding that in practice and precept he grounded his life’s work in the “continuous primary mission… to lift up the poor and the working class”.

Through the early Jamaican grass roots creative movement, he used the sound system to open doors and provide economic opportunities for popular acts including Pam Pam and and Persian the Cat.

Vin Edwards and his brother George penned “King Edwards the giant sound system through which they made the careers of a wide range of DJs, singers, record producers and liquor shop owners possible,” she said.

“Vin Edwards was named amongst the mighty ‘big three’ of Jamaican music, which also included the legendary Duke Reid and Coxsone Dodd. They worked tirelessly to give life and legs to the Jamaican musical forms ska, rocksteady and reggae,” Dr Hickling Gordon remarked.

The PNP spokesperson further highlighted Edwards’ pivotal role in the labour rights movement, working in National Workers Union as a champion for the rights of workers and standing firm in his beliefs as an unapologetic socialist.

“Edwards later aligned himself with [former Prime Minister] Michael Manley’s search for social justice, and brought his ideological fervour to his service as councillor for the Boscobel Division and later as MP for Western St Mary. His commitment to uplifting the voiceless should forever be remembered within the PNP,” noted Dr Hickling Gordon.

“Moreover, the racing industry will remember Edwards as a legendary horse trainer who was dedicated to the industry,” she added. “The People’s National Party hails Vincent “Vin” Edwards — a patriotic and unfailing lifetime member, creative pioneer, and sportsman.”