Civic ceremonies should be non-partisan, says BITU rep
BLENHEIM, Hanover — Trade unionist Collin Virgo has criticised the handling of the lead-up to a civic ceremony in Blenheim, Hanover, to mark National Hero Sir Alexander Bustamante’s 141st birthday.
Addressing those gathered for the ceremony on Monday, Virgo said he was dismayed last weekend when he learned from a media report that there was a possibility that the usually highly anticipated ceremony would have to be scaled down due to insufficient funds.
“It doesn’t sit well with me… civic ceremonies are above politics. Civic ceremonies are national events held in a localised area, and I would hate to think that this function almost did not take place this year because of political consideration,” stated Virgo who is the BITU’s assistant general secretary.
Born in Blenheim, Hanover, in 1884 William Alexander Clarke Bustamante founded the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) on July 8, 1943 as the political wing of the BITU. He later became the first prime minister of independent Jamaica on August 6, 1962. He served until February 23, 1967 and died a few years later on August 6, 1977. He was 93 years old.
Each year there are usually ceremonies in Kingston and Hanover to mark his birth. However, during a recent planning committee meeting it was suggested by Shyan Williams, parish manager of Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), that the Government had not allocated funds to stage the event in Hanover. Hanover Municipal Corporation also advised that it was unable to provide financial support for the event.
Williams then suggested a $150,000, low-key, floral tribute instead of the usual civic ceremony which has an estimated budget of $800,000.
The civic ceremony went ahead after intervention by Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia “Babsy” Grange. BITU also played a part.
On Monday Virgo publicly thanked Grange for her role in making the ceremony possible.
The Manchester native also pointed to what he said were stark differences in how a civic ceremony has been handled in Roxborough, Manchester, the birthplace of Bustamante’s cousin Norman Manley, over the years. Manley is a national hero and was the leader of the People’s National Party (PNP).
