A nation builder par excellence

ON BEHALF of the People’s National Party and the Jamaican people, I salute the life and work of Easton Wentworth Xavier Douglas. Easton grew up in a home in which the priorities were the inculcation of Christian values and the pursuit of academic excellence, and with parents who unreservedly embraced Norman Manley’s vision of Jamaican nationhood.

His formal education began at elementary school and continued at Kingston Technical High School. His training at the University of the West Indies; the University of London; University of Reading; College of Estate Management; and the West London College of Commerce prepared him for a long and distinguished professional career. Town planning and people-centered physical planning were his abiding passions.

For over two decades, Easton Douglas served Jamaica as assistant land surveyor, valuation surveyor, government town planner, and permanent secretary in the Ministry of Construction. He also served as permanent secretary in the Ministry of National Security and Defence. The record confirms the quality of his service. Ultimately, in his desire to be more effective, he set out on a political career. He entered Parliament in 1989 as the elected representative for South East St Andrew and remained an effective servant of his constituents until his retirement from representational politics in 2002. During that period, he held a range of Cabinet portfolios, including health, public service, and land, housing and the environment.

EMBRACED MANLEY’S VISION

Throughout, he embraced Norman Manley’s vision of an independent Jamaica and gave valuable service to the People’s National Party as member of the Executive Committee, the National Executive Council and Constituency Chairman.

He was a member of the Cabinet during the administrations of Michael Manley and P.J. Patterson, and remained an effective public servant on various statutory boards during the administration of Portia Simpson Miller. Throughout his years, I benefited from his considered advice and guidance. He extended his contribution to nation building by his role as founder and member of the Association of Land Economy & Valuation Surveyors; member of the Town and Country Planning Association; and chairman of the National Housing Trust.

A grateful nation conferred on him the Order of Jamaica and the Centenary Medal of the Institute of Jamaica for outstanding contribution to the development of art and culture in the area of national conservation.

I, along with others of my generation, were indeed fortunate to have served with Easton Douglas in the Cabinet of Jamaica and in the various endeavours of nation building. He was a colleague who we all regarded as the most informed discussant on public policy and the structure of government. All in all, he was an example of patriotic commitment and a nation builder par excellence.

PETER D. PHILLIPS

Leader of the Opposition