Government Officials
His Worship, The Mayor Senator & Councillor Delroy Williams Mayor of Kingston & St. Andrew
Jamaica has lost one of her most dedicated, brightest, diligent and prolific public servants with the passing of the Honourable Easton Douglas. A former Government Town Planner, Permanent Secretary, Member of Parliament for South East St. Andrew, Minister of Health, Minister of Land, Environment & Housing, former Chairman of the National Housing Trust, Commissioned Land Surveyor and Consultant, it is evident that Easton was an unstoppable force who strove for excellence.
He will be remembered for his tremendous work in expanding the provision of Housing solutions to Jamaicans.
His inimitable style of leadership and approach to national development are well renowned and admired. He had a special connection with people which featured a healthy mixture of disarming charm, firmness and a giving spirit.
He was a stern decision-maker, tough negotiator, admired leader and stickler for discipline. This was coupled with a personal sartorial elegance that Easton crafted for himself.
The people of the Municipality of Kingston & St. Andrew and by extension the Nation are eternally grateful and are indeed indebted to the Hon. Easton Douglas for his sterling contribution to the development of Jamaica.
On behalf of the Councillors, Management and Staff of the Kingston & St. Andrew Municipal Corporation, we express our deepest condolences to his daughter and our colleague Councillor Kari Douglas, his family, the leadership, delegates and members of the Peoples National Party as well as his personal and professional colleagues. May his soul rest in peace and light perpetual shine upon him, a most favoured Son of Jamaica Land We Love!
His Worship, The Mayor Councillor Leon Thomas Mayor Municipality of Portmore
To even attempt to encapsulate the person that this man was, would be extremely difficult. The positions and accolades that are affixed to him seem never ending, because that was the kind of service he gave… never ending.
I first met Easton Douglas back in 1998 when the Greater Portmore Housing development started. Back then I was the president of the Citizens Association and he was the Minister of Environment and Housing. What became clear to me from those early days about Easton Douglas, was the fact that he was a man with a passion for wanting to realize the multitude of goals that could contribute to a better life for the people of our communities. It almost became his duty to give advice and offer support as the project materialized and when we began our search for land to build our community park, he was right there to assist.
It was later after I entered the political landscape and became a Councillor in the St. Catherine Parish Council, that our friendship grew and I realized that the attributes he possessed of being forthright, outspoken and just, formed part of his true character. He was a leader in every sense of the word.
When he ran for Vice President of the People’s National Party, I was a proud member of his campaign team. I believed in him, because I knew he always wanted to contribute to a better way of living for the people of our communities and towards nation building. His commitment to the PNP was unwavering, solid as a rock. The qualifications he had and the positions he held within government offices are too many to list but each benefitted from his uniqueness, genuine nature, leadership and timely delivery of a job well done. After retirement he was always still available for counsel. Willing to give of his ideas and offer suggestions on whatever project was being worked on. It was he, who introduced me to Dr. Conrad Douglas, his brother. He was only too happy to mention that his brother could offer the Municipality assistance regarding Climate Change , as that was one of his areas of study. Needless to say, he was not wrong and Dr. Conrad Douglas has become a member of our Municipal family.
The trumpet has sounded on Easton Douglas’ life and he has gone on to answer the call. His life and achievements will remain enviable and the memory of him will forever be etched in our hearts.