Newspaper publishers and MoBay politics

NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER and political commentator Lloyd B. Smith has thrown his hat once more into the political ring. The first time that Lloyd B was to have done so was in 1997 in the constituency of Southern St James where he ran against the long-standing member of parliament, Derrick Kellier, for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).The result for Lloyd B and the JLP was a devastating defeat of a 3,500-vote majority for the People's National Party (PNP) Kellier. That political defeat struck a serious blow to Smith as he grappled with his baptism of fire in a bruising and nasty campaign leading up to that election.

Smith took his defeat as a man and went back to his main focus - journalism - consolidating his emergent business enterprise - Western Publishers Limited - winning several national and international awards for his newspaper, the Western Mirror. Smith also burnished his skills as a political commentator gaining notoriety for his unapologetic, politically biting comments and no-holes-barred enquiry. And his recently reported characterisation of the JLP as neocolonialists intent on returning black people to the 'cane piece' is being interpreted by many that Smith has not lost his sting! I shall miss both our complementary and adversarial encounters on the battlefield of ideas. I wish for him all that's good as he double-dips his foot into the political river and steels his resolve to deal with the current. For, indeed, his political opponent, senior JLP councillor Heroy Clarke, will be no push over even while the political trend, based on public-opinion polls, favours the PNP.

Corinaldi and Lightbody legacy

Montego Bay's glorious past was firmly laid by many prominent individuals and families among whom two newspaper publishers-turned-politicians - Donald A. Corinaldi and Phillip Lightbody - stood very tall. Both Corinaldi and Lightbody set the stage for first-class ideas about the city's development to take root. They were both strong-willed and fought for meaningful benefits for Montego Bay and showed to those who were to come the meaning of selfless political service. They were men of oratorical elegance and rhetorical fortitude that mesmerised their colleagues in the legislative council. Above all, they were men whom Montego Bay and the nation could trust because they possessed dedication, integrity and sincerity of purpose. As newspaper publishers, they were familiar with the issues and the urgency of the moment. Such vast and intimate knowledge of the people's hopes and fears proved invaluable in the command of the many debates and representational exercises in which both political stalwarts participated. And they were not just chatters, they produced results for Montego Bay and the west.

David Arelius Corinaldi, member of the legislative council, representing both the parishes of St James and Trelawny, was the person who gave the noble name 'St James' to the parish. He secured government support to establish a Montego Bay government school - Cornwall College. He was the publisher of two newspapers the Nineteen Century and afterwards the Twentieth Century. Because of old age, he was required to retire from the legislative council but not before acquiring the prestigious title of 'Father of the House' in 1918.

Forceful representation

Corinnaldi died in 1920 and was succeeded in the legislative council by another western newspaper publisher Phillip Lightbody. Montego Bay High School for Girls was established through his forceful representation. Lightbody oversaw electricity coming to Montego Bay in 1928 and was the principal mover behind the establishment of the modern government hospital along Gloucester Ave in 1929 - the site of which has recently been turned into a park across from the Wexford Court Hotel. Lightbody was publisher of three newspapers: The Northern News based in Montego Bay. The Western Echo based in Savanna-la-Mar, Westmoreland, and The Trelawny Advance based in Falmouth.

Now in the 21st century, another newspaper publisher from the west has answered the call to represent Montego Bay in the newly created constituency of Central St James. The question is if Lloyd B. Smith is given the opportunity to represent Montego Bay, will he stand like Donald Corinaldi and Phillip Lightbody or will he stumble by the same forces which have clouded the vision and numbed the concerns of the present crop of political representatives in St James?