MONTEGO BAY, St James — Clifton James, the engineer who lost his life while working on a section of the Montego Bay bypass road in early September, was hailed for his dedication to service during his funeral on Sunday.

Among those paying tribute was St James Central Member of Parliament Heroy Clarke, who recounted his interactions with James dating back to childhood as both men grew up in neighbouring communities.

“The difference between Clifton and I was that Clifton was [a] very calm, easygoing, spirited youngster. Heroy Clarke was one of the noisy, robust, think him was always the village lawyer for everything — but we bonded from then,” Clarke told the gathering at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

Clarke explained that he was from Glendevon while James hailed from Quarry. He said the two developed a friendship during their high school years, despite his attendance at Cornwall College and James attending Herbert Morrison Technical High School, popularly called Compre.

“Even though we had our little fights between Cornwall and Compre — whether it be at a little track meet or a football match — Clifton and I remained friends,” added Clarke.

He told those in attendance that although adulthood took them in different directions, they continued to keep in touch whenever the opportunity arose.

“I remember the last time that I spoke to Clifton was when we did the tour with the minister [with responsibility for works Robert Morgan] of the perimeter road, and he pulled me one side and said, ‘MP, a long time mi nuh si yu…how things?’ And I said, ‘I see your handiwork,’ because he believed in making sure that everything was to the T and correct,” Clarke said.

“Little did we know that conversation we had then would be the last conversation between he and I for now,” lamented Clarke, who used the occasion to pay tribute to James whom he described as a nation builder who worked behind the scenes.

Carlena James (right), the widow of Clifton James, gets a supportive hug from a friend during the funeral.

“I will say to the family of Clifton that we give to you our appreciation, our gratitude, because you gave Clifton to us for the entire service of his life.

“He was always in a department that speaks to serving a nation, serving the people, and so we say thank you for all the times that he would stay away from home, that he would go out there working. He was serving a nation,” added Clarke as he addressed the large crowd gathered at the convention centre to celebrate the life and legacy of James.

Opposition Senator Alan Bernard used the funeral to highlight his close friendship with James, which he said had developed into a working relationship through initiatives such as back-to-school treats.

“For Clifton there was no contradiction between a highly skilled professional and being an active participant in the life of his community,” Bernard stated.

“Indeed, I believe that he understood that professional knowledge carried with it a responsibility of service,” Bernard added as he pointed to James’ approach to complex issues and his determination to find solutions.

“Clifton was a thinker. He was keen, analytical, measured and deliberate. He understood that meaningful representation requires more than good intentions and passionate speeches — it requires preparation, organisation, strategy, discipline and, above all, a willingness to translate ideas into action,” said Bernard.

Among the other tributes was one from SJE Consultants Limited, where James was employed at the time of his death.

Member of Parliament for St James Central Heroy Clarke (left) is among the people who attended the funeral of Clifton James at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on Sunday.

Human Resource and Corporate Services Manager Cameil Merchant described James as “irreplaceable”.

“Clifton was the one person you could call at any time of day — and sometimes, inevitably, at nights — because the company needed someone to supervise a job somewhere across the island,” said Merchant.

“He would never say no because, ‘the boss work haffi do’. He asked what time he should get there, and he would take care of the rest,” added Merchant.

During his time with the company James worked on several major infrastructure projects, including the south coast leg of Highway 2000, and the Montego Bay Perimeter Road.

He also spent a decade in the public sector, working in the Major Works Department of the National Works Agency (NWA).

“Clifton helped to deliver the Bogue Main Road Improvement Project, one of the main gateways into Montego Bay, and his final major project with the agency was the Ferris Cross to Macfield road in Westmoreland,” NWA Regional Manager Robert Francis told the gathering.

“Thousands travel these roads everyday, [and] few will know his name, but they benefit from his work all the same,” said Francis as he reflected on the lasting legacy of James.

Throughout the tributes James was remembered as someone who was approachable, always willing to help, and able to form friendships with ease.