When did he become a private sector advocate? What brought on his Damascene moment?ДЄt one of our private sessions in Barbados without ministers or civil servants, Forbes Burnham of his Cooperative Republic of Guyana expressed his disgust with our students with scholarships who do not return. I was a bit surprised when he turned up latterly in the company of our private sector eminence Butch Stewart to promote his new airline in our region and the need to lengthen our Arnos Vale airport for safety and access for larger planes. Michael Manley and I developed a kind relationship in my early tenure in office. I continue to surprise myself with the evolving scenario of the number of colleagues I outlive, but it is always fascinating to recall incidents that are really history. Eddie led the way with his fiscal sensitivity, proposing a ban on the purchase of South African Krugerrands, dominant as collectorsвЂ™ pieces throughout the market. Sanctions on sporting and other links always occupied a whole dayвЂ™s agenda, much of it repetitive. One important idea of Eddie Seaga blazed a trail in the anti apartheid struggle. Housing students from other islands at Mona should be a regional project. When he discovered that I had secured grant funding for the Bequia airport from the European Union as a вЂRegionalвЂ™ project, his thinking suddenly awoke. So our Bequia trip became a cause celebre in future dinners. While travelling to Bequia on Coast Guard, Eddie fell ill with vomiting. I invited Eddie and his wife Mitsy to lunch at the Frangipani. Some personal stories may be appropriate. My assignment by the International Democrat Union to be Co Chair observing elections in Nicaragua and Hungary after the fall of communism, and constructive discussions with colleagues from around the world gave me an understanding of failed policy. The Adaneur Foundation assisted in training in democratic principles for the youth including a regional get together. He steered us into affiliation with The International Democrat Union and linkage with conservative and centre parties. The publication in 2009 by Edward Seaga: вЂInside story of the Grenada InterventionвЂ™ and Pat CallenderвЂ™s: вЂFlight paths and missing ConnectionsвЂ™, add to the picture of our retreat from communist links.ДЄround the sidelines of a CARICOM Heads Meeting, Eddie organized a gathering of Eugenia Charles, John Compton, Kennedy Simmonds, Herbert Blaise and myself to discuss the вЂњcreation of a political institution among usвЂќ, and this is the genesis of The Caribbean Democrat Union with Eddie as Chairman. ManleyвЂ™s dictum that those of you who donвЂ™t like my socialism and links with Cuba, there are five flights a day to Miami, simply sent away the adventurous needed for economic prosperity. Now the tune вЂOne LoveвЂ™ is romance, not politics.Д«efore the Berlin wall fell, Eddie Seaga had steered Jamaica away from this socialist rhetoric of the time. And it is in music blended with politics that we are left with that enduring image in the National Stadium of the One Love concert, when Bob Marley brought on the handshake between Norman Manley and Eddie Seaga seeking to bring an end the factional violence with over 800 deaths. His creativity in launching a music recording studio in the early days paved the way for JamaicaвЂ™s billion dollar music industry. For 43 years, he represented West Kingston in Parliament, including being Prime Minister and thus earned the recognition as the longest serving member of Parliament in Jamaica and our Caribbean, altogether 45 years. The formidable Sir Alexander Bustamente spotted his ability at the age of 29 and nominated him to the Jamaican legislature where he served for two years. Inspired by his Lebanese business background and early scholarly experience in Harvard, all directed him to his sensitive financial rectitude.

Ed saeger jamaica prime minister