It's Chancellor Edward Seaga

Chester Francis-Jackson, Gleaner Writer

It is true of The Most Honourable Edward Seaga that his has been a life characterised by service above and beyond the call of duty.

It has been posited by those closest to the former prime minister and leader of the Jamaica Labour Party that Seaga is a man consumed by the passion and wish to serve, and not just in a ceremonial capacity, but in a more meaningful and substantial way. He still gives of himself using his vast knowledge and expertise gained in years as one of the foremost political thinkers, strategists and administrators in contemporary Jamaica.

As a political leader, Seaga was more than just a formidable opponent. The man was as controversial as he was a lightning rod, igniting the passion of his fans and supporters to his political way of thinking, as he equally stroked the rage and fear of those who opposed him. He has been curiously vilified by his natural political opponents and one-time political colleagues and benefactors with equal fervour and animus. They, however, do not challenge his record and contribution in helping to forge that unique Jamaican national identity in arts and culture and institution building. And perhaps when a true analysis of his life shall have been contextualised, those charged with making that determination would come to realise that this was a life lived in service to his country, fellow man and the political party. In this respect, Seaga's departure from political life caused civil society to rue the move, seeing it as a loss to the wider society. And with a situation of détente emerging between Seaga and his political successors, fear mounted that not only would his skills, acumen, institutional knowledge and know-how be lost to the public, but that a great mind would be ignored, leaving the country the poorer for it.

Enter the University of Technology (UTech), one of the region's fastest-growing institutions, made so by its departure from the traditional templates of learning and teaching, to embrace the practical realities of contemporary experiences. Buttressed by a faculty of achievers and trailblazers and voilà, Seaga, a man unequalled among his would-be political peers and contemporaries and is only matched by his zest to serve, is afforded an opportunity to continue his life of service. UTech boasts a student population of just over 10,000, its make-up as diverse as the people of the Caribbean. With Professor Errol Morrison as its president, UTech is changing lives through educational empowerment, in a manner not envisaged and thus helping in preparing the country from its journey from an island people inundated by cyclical poverty and undernourished minds into a competitive, competent and viable transformational workforce, and nation with Seaga as its new chancellor!

The official investiture ceremony was Wednesday, March 16 at UTech's Alfred Sangster Auditorium, and luvs, it was all that! Talk about pomp and circumstance. It was all there and made for one fabulous do from beginning to end. From the entry of the chancellor to the UTech Vocal Ensemble's chorus of songs; the conferment of an honorary doctorate to the installation, it was all great. That was followed by the presentation of the University Act by Education Minister Andrew Holness, the handover of the mace; the chancellor's inaugural address and the guard of honour mounted by faculty and student bodies. It made for a most solemn presentation. And as it was solemn during the investiture ceremony, so it was fabulously relaxed in the university's Sculptor Park for the post-investiture cocktail reception. Luvs, talk about fab, this was a lesson in haute style as it was a continuation of pomp and ceremony, but here it was all about fab style and felicitations! The park was buzzing with movers and shakers and the quoted and noted, as friends, relatives and admirers gathered in celebratory mode in honour of the new chancellor and it was fabulous.

Guests

Among the notables in attendance were Governor General Sir Patrick Allen and Lady Allen; his predecessor Sir Kenneth Hall and Lady Hall; Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller; Carla Seaga and daughter Gabrielle, Senate President Dr Oswald Harding and wife Custos of St Andrew Marigold Harding; Youth, Sports and Culture Minister Olivia 'Babsy' Grange; Labour Minister Pearnel Charles; Junior Minister Shahine Robinson; former Education Minister and MP Dr Mavis Gilmour.

Representing the diplomatic and consular corps were US Ambassador Pamela Bridgewater; Canadian High Commissioner Stephen Hallihan; Mexican Ambassador Leonora Rueda; Cuban Ambassador Yuri Gala Lopez; Nicaraguan Ambassador David McField; Honorary Consul of Iceland Robert MacMillan; Honorary Consul of Thailand Thalia Lyn; Honorary Consul of Portugal Paul Issa; and Honorary Consul of Ecuador Clelia Barreto de Hunter.

Representing academia, legal luminaries, high society and friends, family and supporters of the new chancellor were Dr Alfred Sangster; Dr Winston Davidson; Dr Vonnie McGowan-Arscott; Chris Bovell; R.N.A. Henriques; Raymond Clough; Harold Brady; Maurice and Valerie Facey; Dennis Lalor; the very charming Dr Joyce Robinson; Ambassador Madge Barrett; Ambassador Stewart Stephenson; the esteemed Oliver Jones; Earl and Beverley Levy; Mike Vicens and his lovely daughter Amber Vicens Stewart; Tony and Patsy Kelly; the esteemed Lorna Myers; banker Ryland Campbell; Joan Paris-Woodstock; Eddie Shoucair; Ethlyn Norton-Coke; the elegant Dorothy Carter-Bradford; Joe and Clare McPherson; Scarlett Gillings; Henry Rainford; the charming Shirley Williams; Ken and Gloria Jones; Seragh and Effie Lakasingh, David Mais; Sally Porteous; Angela Patterson; Sonita Abrahams; Prudence Kidd-Deans, Councillor Lorna Leslie; Ricky Chin; Kenneth Shaw; Carol-Rose Brown; Jean Seaga Anderson; Dr Jonathan Greenland and wife Dr Rebecca Tortello Greenland; Madge Seaga, plus a number of others.