KINGSTON, Jamaica—Members of the Senate paid tribute to the late former senator and Group Chief Executive Officer of GraceKennedy Limited, Don Wehby, during the sitting of the Upper House on Friday.

Senator Wehby, who died on July 26, 2025, at the age of 62, was hailed as a visionary, patriot, nation builder and a man of integrity.

In leading the tributes, Senate President, Tom Tavares-Finson, said that Senator Wehby was a “dear friend to all of us”.

“Senator Wehby served with distinction in this Honourable House for more than 10 years, including his role as Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service from 2007 to 2009.

Senator Wehby or Don as we referred to him was also an inspirational and innovative leader who oversaw the modernisation of the GraceKennedy Group… he was named the 31st inductee in the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica Hall of Fame,” he said.

Acting Leader of Government Business and Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information Senator Dana Morris Dixon, hailed Senator Wehby as “an exceptional man”.

“He was a giant in Jamaican business,” she said, noting that he has left a legacy of greatness at GraceKennedy.

“He was saying, through GraceKennedy, that Jamaica is great…We are great at building global brands and global businesses,” she said.

State Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, Senator Abka Fitz-Henley, hailed Senator Wehby as a man of strategic vision, a true Jamaican patriot, icon and nation builder whose legacy will inspire for generations to come.

“Don Wehby was a man of great humanity. He believed in people…Don Wehby was not a partisan, but he was not shy or bashful about being strident and being prepared to defend Jamaica,” he pointed out.

He said that Senator Wehby was a firm believer in the ability of sports and education to transform any society. “Indeed, he did significant pioneering work with the GraceKennedy Foundation. Many young people I’ve come across have spoken about the influence and the mentorship that Don provided,” he added.

Acting Leader of Opposition Business, Senator Professor Floyd Morris, in his tribute, said that Senator Wehby served the Chamber and the nation with distinction.

“He was a giant in every sphere of his life… we not often agree on all the points he made in the Senate, but we understand the dignity and decency of the man,” he pointed out.

Senator Lambert Brown hailed him as a visionary and a patriot, who truly loved and served his country.

“He served well. He deserves every honour that our country has bestowed on him,” he said.

Other senators who paid tribute were Kavan Gayle, Ramon Small Ferguson, Charles Sinclair, Alan Bernard, Sherine Golding Campbell, Keith Duncan, and Christian Tavares-Finson.

During the sitting, the Senate observed a minute of silence in honour of Senator Wehby and for the lives lost during the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

—JIS