In his reply to tributes at King’s House, the Rt. Hon. Hugh Lawson Shearer expressed gratitude for the recognition and acknowledged those who shaped his journey, including Lady Bustamante and National Hero Sir Alexander Bustamante, whom he described as “father, friend, and provider of opportunity.” He credited the trade union movement for much of his personal growth, recalling advances such as maternity leave and the Police Federation, and pledged to continue standing by his word. 
 

Published Tuesday, August 28, 1990

Shearer praised as trade union leader

-Award of O.J. seen fitting reward for service to Jamaica

Tribute to the Rt. Hon. Hugh Shearer for his service to Jamaica, particularly in the field of trade unionism, was paid to him on Saturday last at the ceremony at King’s House when he was invested with the insignia of the Order of Jamaica, conferred on him by the Government on Labour Day.

Mr. Shearer was praised as an outstanding labour leader who spared no effort in the cause of the workers, as well as a brilliant negotiator who set an example of success that was a model for other trade union officers to emulate. His contribution in the area of politics, in which he rose to be Prime Minister of Jamaica, was also singled out for praise. Sir Florizel Glasspole, Governor-General, presided at the pleasant ceremony, and speeches lauding Mr. Shearer were made by the Acting Prime Minister, the Hon. P. J. Patterson; the Leader of the Opposition, the Rt. Hon. Edward Seaga; and the Vice-President of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (of which Mr. Shearer is President), Senator Dwight Nelson. His Excellency set the tone of the speeches when, in opening the proceedings, he said they were there to do honour to one of the "well-known and distinguished men in the country.”
The applause which greeted this statement was a prelude to the enthusiastic response of the gathering to the many tributes paid to the guest of honour.
Citation

Before the speech-making, which in itself was an unusual feature of an occasion such as this, when the rule is invariably no speeches, a citation giving the background of the award of the OJ to Mr. Shearer and tracing his public career was read and presented to him.

Mr. F. A. Douce, O.D., Secretary General of the Chancery of the Orders of the Societies of Honour (of Jamaica), read the citation, which paid tribute to Mr. Shearer as one of Jamaica's “most illustrious sons and dedicated builders.” Taking special note of his leadership role in the trade union field, the citation said of Shearer:

“He is one of the major architects of the sophisticated industrial relations system that Jamaica can now boast, being second to none in the developing world and equal to many in the developed countries in its grasp of the contradictions and complexities of the human condition, especially in the interactions between people in the world of work.”

Sir Florizel then presented Mr. Shearer with the insignia of the Order, placing the beribboned medallion over his shoulders — to the spontaneous applause of the company of Ministers of Government, Members of Parliament, officers and members of the trade unions, other distinguished guests, including friends and associates of Mr. Shearer.

Speeches
Opening the speeches, Mr. Patterson referred to the investiture ceremony as “no ordinary occasion” and the awardee as “no ordinary man.”
“We are honouring Hugh Lawson Shearer for his peculiar contribution to the labour movement in Jamaica and in the Caribbean,” Mr. Patterson said. He remarked that Mr. Shearer’s skill as a negotiator was not likely to be surpassed.

“His great mentor, National Hero Sir Alexander Bustamante, can be truly proud of his work and smiles down on this ceremony here this morning,” the Acting Prime Minister said, and noted that the presence of the many trade union leaders there was a testimony to the high esteem in which Mr. Shearer was held, as the current dean of the trade union movement.

Mr. Patterson commented that the role of the trade unions was changing and attributed this in large measure to Mr. Shearer’s leadership, in which he had articulated the need for the trade unions to exercise a role of social responsibility and to work for increased national production.
“On behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica, we salute Hugh Lawson Shearer for his remarkable accomplishments and his exemplary leadership in the trade union movement in Jamaica,” Mr. Patterson ended, to applause.

Earlier he made reference to the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Michael Manley, whom he said had particularly instructed him to convey his personal regret that he could not be present at the ceremony but had asked Mr. Patterson to extend his personal congratulations to Mr. Shearer, whom he knew so well.

Epitome
Senator Nelson described the occasion as one of pride and triumph for the trade union movement. Mr. Shearer, as a trade union leader, epitomised the spirit, determination, courage, boldness, and grit of the working class of Jamaica as they strove for a better life, he declared.

Speaking for his colleagues of the trade union leadership, Senator Nelson said, “We come here as members of a family who ourselves are honoured this morning.”

Senator Nelson went back into history to relate something of the early life of Mr. Shearer in the trade union field, and recounted his development over the years. He said his accomplishments in the field were many, and his outstanding characteristic was his resourceful and innovative approach to solving worker-management problems.

Mr. Shearer had been a prime mover for benefits for workers, their children, and the nation as a whole. He had pioneered the award of scholarships for the children of sugar workers, which had resulted in Jamaica benefitting from the services of professionals in many fields.
“The trade union movement salutes Hugh Lawson Shearer on that effort,” Senator Nelson declared, to applause.

The establishment of the first Joint Industrial Council for Kingston waterfront workers was a notable achievement by Mr. Shearer, who was the sole survivor of that pioneering effort. He had also been foremost in the planning and development of the Joint Trade Union Research Centre, the only one of its kind in the Caribbean.

On the international scene, Mr. Shearer had made his mark by getting the United Nations to accept his proposal to declare the International Year of Human Rights.
Senator Nelson traced Mr. Shearer’s rise in the political sphere of Jamaica to the pinnacle of prime ministership, but noted that, with all his exalted positions, Mr. Shearer had never abandoned the workers. “He is always willing to serve and his contribution remains unparalleled,” he ended.

Three Areas
Mr. Seaga said Mr. Shearer’s had been a multi-faceted life, in which he had become well-known and highly esteemed for his skill as a trade union negotiator. There were three special areas of emphasis on which those negotiating skills were focused:continuing interest in the welfare of young people,the rights and benefits for women workers, and working hours.

As the acknowledged leader of the trade union movement in the Caribbean, Mr. Shearer had achieved that position because of his special characteristics. He was the number one negotiator in the field, with an unflappable and generous nature, and with the extraordinary ability to get along with people.

“He is an intensely likeable man,” Mr. Seaga declared, to applause, adding that Mr. Shearer had an abundant fund of goodwill, was an even-handed person, and one who was held in high esteem by all.

Further political honour was yet to come for Mr. Shearer, for the Jamaica Labour Party intended to honour him for his political service to the country, said Mr. Seaga, who reinforced an earlier statement by Mr. Patterson that there was a move on foot to award a special honour to past Prime Ministers.

Ending on a personal note, Mr. Seaga said, “As someone whom I have served and as someone who in turn has served me in our roles as two batsmen at different ends of the wicket at different times, I would not have achieved whatever I have achieved without his very valuable assistance.
“Today, I salute him on behalf of the Jamaica Labour Party on this honour so well earned.”
Support

Mr. Shearer, in his reply, acknowledged the assistance which Mr. Seaga had given him in the early days of his trade union work. He referred to the presence of Lady Bustamante and thanked her for her constant support, as “mother, defender and protector,” as he related a humorous anecdote when she came to his rescue in the matter of a damaged motor car.

Tribute was also paid by Mr. Shearer to Sir Alexander, who he said had taken a personal interest in him when he was a young man, and who had proven to be “father, friend, and provider of opportunity.” He had learned a lot from Sir Alexander, he declared.

Acknowledging the part which the trade union movement had played in his personal development, he said he had learned a great deal from the process of arbitration, and he reflected on some of the gains he had been able to make, in such areas as securing maternity leave for women workers and the establishment of the Police Federation.

As a secret of success, he suggested to his trade union colleagues the policy of giving one’s word and standing by it. “If Shearer gives you his word, you can go to bed and sleep on it,” he declared, to applause.

Finally, he thanked all those who had contributed to the investiture ceremony. “I want to thank you for giving me moral support this morning. I will wear this Order with maximum dignity,” he said.

Bringing the ceremony to a close, the Governor-General described it as “a wonderful morning, a memorable occasion that we will not easily forget.”
Members of the gathering then joined in personally congratulating Mr. Shearer on the award, as champagne was served and the recipient’s health was toasted in happy celebration.

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