MONTEGO BAY, St James — The late Arthur Nelson was remembered Saturday as a man of humility who stood tall in the fields of engineering and politics, while making a lasting impact on the lives of family members. The accolades came during a thanksgiving service held at St James Parish Church.

“Arthur belonged to a generation of Jamaicans who understood that public service was a calling. Whether as a distinguished civil engineer or as the Member of Parliament for West Central St James, he approached every responsibility with diligence, humility, and an unwavering commitment to doing what was right,” Opposition Leader and People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding told the congregation.

“His professional expertise helped shape aspects of Jamaica’s physical development and informed his contributions to public policy, including his service on the Advisory Planning Committee under the Town and Country Planning framework. It was therefore fitting that, in 2015, the nation recognised his outstanding contributions to politics and engineering with the award of the Order of Distinction in the rank of Officer,” Golding stated.

After initially being asked to contest a seat by former Prime Minister PJ Patterson, Nelson represented St James Western for two consecutive terms, winning in 1993 and again in 1997 on a PNP ticket. During that time, Golding said, Nelson established himself as a distinguished politician.

“He was a gentleman in the truest sense of the word. He demonstrated that leadership is not about seeking attention or privilege, but about faithfully serving others. I have often heard the story that, during his years as a Member of Parliament he would travel to Gordon House by public bus. Whether out of modesty, practicality, or simply because it reflected who he was, that story has endured because it speaks to the kind of man Arthur Nelson was. He remained grounded, accessible and never allowed public office to distance him from ordinary Jamaicans,” said Golding.

Nelson was also fondly remembered by Patterson, who sent a tribute that was read on his behalf.

Opposition leader and president of the People’s National Party Mark Golding delivering his tribute at Saturday’s thanksgiving service for former comrade and Member of Parliament for St James West Central Arthur Nelson. At right is Senator Allan Bernard. The service was held at St James Parish Church.

The former PNP president shared that he knew Nelson from their days at Cornwall College and his qualities of sterling leadership were evident from then.

“Here was a man who held high office and never once mistook it for arrogance or superiority. He never placed himself above those who sent him to Gordon House. While the trappings of importance can quietly corrode the purpose of service, Arthur Nelson remained, to the end, a faithful steward. That humility was not a performance, it was simply who he was,” the elder statesman remarked.

Patterson also revealed a decision they took that demonstrated Nelson’s devotion to the people he served.

“The length and nature of our personal relationship enabled Comrade Nelson to confide in me, as prime minister, his preference to avoid ministerial appointment,” Patterson noted.

“He preferred to devote more of his time and skills to his family, engineering firm, and to superintend diligent execution of constituency projects. Next only to education, shelter was his clear priority. He was determined to improve living conditions and sanitation whether at Cornwall Court, Retirement, or Pitfour. His mission was to uplift the social status and environmental surroundings of St James,” the statement continued.

Tributes also came from political activist O Dave Allen, who similarly stressed Nelson’s humility, despite the changes that occurred around him.

Among the dignitaries who joined in the celebration of the life of Arthur Nelson were (from right) Custos of St James Bishop Conrad Pitkin; Member of Parliament for St James West Central Marlene Malahoo Forte; Member of Parliament for St James Southern, Nekeisha Burchell; Opposition Leader and President of the People’s National Party Mark Golding; Member of Parliament for Westmoreland Central Dwayne Vaz; Senator Allan Bernard; and Member of Parliament for St Catherine Southern, Fitz Jackson.

“Our campaign, by contrast, was anything but modest. We erected a massive billboard over Sam Sharpe Square, we even put Arthur in a helicopter; we tried to make him larger than life but Arthur was never larger than life and that was his strength. When the noise died down, he was simply Arthur: approachable, restrained, disciplined, decent, perhaps that’s why people trusted him,” Allen mused.

However, while many will remember Nelson as a politician, it was in his role as an engineer that he made perhaps his greatest impact, not only in St James but across Jamaica.

A civil engineer by profession, Nelson’s work continues to stand strong today.

“His work is left as an enduring legacy to the brilliance of this engineer,” fellow engineer Noel Whyte told the congregation.

“It is reflected in buildings such as, here in Montego Bay, the Bank of Nova Scotia, CIBC… at City Centre, the revenue centre and in several schools he was involved with — William Knibb High School in Falmouth, several schools in the Catherine Hall area, and Montego Bay Community College, just to name a few. The infrastructure of Montego Bay was guided by Arthur’s careful hands,” he added.

Shaun Nelson shares his memories of his father, the late Member of Parliament Arthur Nelson, during a thanksgiving service held at St James Parish Church on Saturday.

Developments, including Howard Cooke Boulevard, the Montego Bay Perimeter Road project, Cornwall Courts Development, and the Creek, were also said to have benefited from Nelson’s involvement, as he played significant roles in their development.

But beyond his professional and political achievements, Nelson was remembered as a family man, husband to Barbara and father to Mark, Shaun, and Andrea.

His son, Shaun, lauded his father for his love of family.

“Dad had strong family values and would do everything to keep his family together. He was not one of them huggy, kissy types of daddy, but he showed his love in other ways. He always wanted his family nearby and always created opportunities just to have his family around him,” he related.

Scores of mourners turned out for the funeral, among them several PNP Members of Parliament including Fitz Jackson, Nekeisha Burchell, and Dwayne Vaz. Also present was Senator Allan Bernard, who read the tribute from Patterson.

Also paying her respects was the current Member of Parliament for St James West Central Marlene Malahoo Forte.