KINGSTON, Jamaica — Chairman of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Communication Taskforce, Abka Fitz-Henley, has hailed the contribution of former senator, the late Don Wehby in the preliminary phase helping to guide the tone of the party’s successful campaign for re-election.

Fitz-Henley, speaking on behalf of members of the governing party’s National Campaign Committee also dedicated Wednesday’s General Election victory over the Mark Golding-led People’s National Party (PNP) to Wehby who died recently after battling illness.

“I recall when I assumed operational lead for the communication taskforce last year, Don who was a good friend and mentor, had a conversation where he advised that the campaign for re-election should dispell false narratives but really should primarily promote the track record of work of the Andrew Holness-led administration and also renew a commitment to execute additional policies for the people of Jamaica,” said Fitz-Henley at a media conference at the JLP’s Belmont Road headquarters on Thursday.

The JLP Communication Taskforce chairman praised Wehby who he served alongside in the Senate for two years during the last administration.

“Unfortunately, he is no longer here with us. But Don was particular about the Jamaica Labour Party not allowing Jamaica to be reversed into the hands of people who contributed to an abysmal era in terms of high interest rates and the general mismanagement of the Jamaican economy, an era which crippled thousands of businesses and destroyed many lives,” Fitz-Henley shared.

Fitz-Henley said he is in no doubt that Wehby would be pleased by the outcome of the election.

“He was a fair and respectful private sector and political practitoner who always wished his country well. I promised him, we’d pull off this victory for him and under the leadership of Dr Holness and General Secretary Dr Horace Chang along with Campaign Chairman, Dr Christopher Tufton, we have. I am sure my colleagues will join me in, in part, dedicating this General Election triumph to Don, who was a great servant of our party and a true Jamaican patriot,” Fitz-Henley concluded.

Don Wehby was one of Jamaica’s foremost businesses leaders. He passed away at the Tony Thwaites Wing of the University Hospital of the West Indies on Saturday July 26 at age 62.

Wehby’s passing led to an outpouring of tributes across society including from Prime Minister Holness, Opposition Leader Mark Golding and several of his former private sector colleagues.

He was a former long standing chief executive officer of the Grace Kennedy Group.