Once unable to read or write, 21-year-old Basil Hamilton proudly read a passage from the Bible at the official opening of Parliament, becoming the first layman to take part in the ceremony. After enrolling at the Adult Education Centre on East Street in January 1974, Basil — who had only one year of formal schooling — graduated just last month, now able to read and write his own letters. His inspiring journey from illiteracy to national recognition earned him applause and admiration from all present.

Literacy student reads Bible at opening

A young man who could not read or write up to last year made history yesterday when he read a passage from the Bible at the official opening of Parliament.
Tradition took a back seat to allow 21-year-old Basil Hamilton to become the first layman to take part in the religious ceremonies.
Introduced by Acting Anglican Bishop of Jamaica, the Rt Rev J. T. Clark, Mr Hamilton, a JAMAL graduate, read Psalm 24.
Born in St James, Hamilton had only one year of primary education, having to cut short his early education because, at the age of eight, his father died.
At the age of 17 years, he got a job as a handyman in Montego Bay and, in 1973, two years later, he migrated to Kingston to work as a cleaner/attendant at the St Andrew Parish Library.
In January 1974, he registered at the Adult Education Centre on East Street, and last month he graduated, able to read and write his own letters.
At the end of the reading, Hamilton was applauded.

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