A statue commemorating the Hon. Clement Tavares, former member of Parliament for South-West St. Andrew and minister of housing, was unveiled at Payne Avenue, St. Andrew. The statue was revealled by his mother. Dignitaries, including Prime Minister Hugh Shearer, paid tribute to Mr. Tavares during the unveiling. The memorial service was conducted by Rev. Don Taylor, who emphasised Mr. Tavares' contributions to Jamaica and the importance of building a strong nation.

Published Tuesday, October 19,1971

Tavares statue unveiled

A statue erected in memory of the Hon. Clement Tavares, former member of Parliament for South-West St. Andrew and minister of housing, was unveiled yesterday at Payne Avenue, St. Andrew.

The statue which is situated at a site near the Haile Selassie Junior Secondary School was unveiled by Mrs. Natalie Tavares, mother of Mr. Tavares.

Among those paying tribute to Mr. Tavares were the Prime Minister the Rt. Hon. Hugh Shearer, the Hon. Robert Lightbourne, Minister of Trade and Industry; the Hon. Leopold Lynch, Minister of Local Government; the Speaker, Mr. E.C. L. Parkinson, M. P. and the Hon. Wilton Hill, Minister of Public Utilities and Housing and successor to Mr. Tavares’ seat in Parliament.

A memorial service was held before the unveiling.  It was conducted by the Rev. Don Taylor.

The statue was done by Mr. Alvin Marriott and financed from contributions made by friends of Mr. Tavares.

Mr. Tavares died on January 17, 1968 of a heart ailment at age 43.  He was a solicitor and was first elected to the House in 1959 as a representative for the Jamaica Labour Party and was member of the House up to the time of his death.

He was appointed Minister of Housing in 1962 and Leader of the House in 1966.  He held various posts in the party and was at various times, secretary, third deputy leader and second deputy leader.  He chaired the J.L.P. Organisation Committee and acted as Prime Minister from March 22, 1967 to April 11, 1967.

The Rev. Don Taylor, in his sermon, spoke of the contribution Mr. Tavares had made to Jamaica and South-West St. Andrew in particular.  The Rev. Taylor said that if we were going to build a nation we would have to build it through hard work and mutual respect. Without quality of life, we could not build anything lasting.

He said that Mr. Tavares was a man who sought to build and ask that the people cherish the things which he stood for.

The Hon. Wilton Hill said that Mr. Tavares life began and ended with the welfare of the people of Jamaica. Mr. Tavares never stopped working for that which he thought was necessary he added.

Mr. Hill declared that Mr. Tavares had left his foot prints on the sands of Jamaican time.  He stated that the late Minister was a strong party man because he felt that was being a good Jamaican.

Decision

He was never afraid to take a decision and institute its effectiveness. Mr. Hill said, adding that he was instrumental in fighting for independence for Jamaica as opposed to federation and played his part in guiding the history of his people.

Mr. Hill also spoke of the memorial youth centre nearing completion and stated that at some future date the statue would be removed to some other site in the constituency.  The statue would be cherished,  Mr. Hill said and he hoped it would prove an inspiration to the present generation and generations to come.

Mr. Lightbourne in a short address said that when Jamaica became independent that did not make it a nation. He said that independence gave Jamaica the right to build a nation.  He said that independence gave Jamaica the right to build a nation.

Mr. Tavares played an important role in gaining for Jamaica the right to be a nation, he added.

Musical items were rendered be a choir from the Haile Selassie Junior Secondary School and the band of the National Volunteers. The vote of thanks was given by Councillor Richard Williams of the KSAC.

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