A genuine, patient, humble soul

COMRADE DOUGLAS, THE INDIVIDUAL: What struck me most about Comrade Easton Douglas, was his genuine natural humility, great patience and warm rapport with people. I specifically mention ‘patience’ as one of his virtues because I know of my own issues with patience. He did not ‘walk tall’ as if he was better than others.

HIS LISTENING EAR: He had a listening ear for almost everyone and was never seemingly disrespectful to anyone. I remember after Executive Committee meetings, or after long Regional Executive Council (REC) and National Executive Council (NEC) meetings held on Sunday’s, when many members understandably rushed home, Easton would be the one to stay behind and listen patiently to and converse with the Comrades. Vividly, I remember many a late Monday night, up to an hour and more after these often very lengthy Executive Committee meetings had ended, he would still be there listening to the Comrades.

THE TEAM PORTIA CAMPAIGN: As the cocampaign and road manager for the 2006 Team Portia Presidential Campaign, four days before the actual elections, we ran completely out of funds. We had no money for transportation, accommodation or meals. He, as the campaign chairman, unhesitatingly wrote his personal cheque for $2,000,000 and handed it to me, which literally saved the day and our campaign. Fortunately, it was one of those occasions when we could have fully reimbursed him, but I shudder to think what would have happened had we lost.

LAND POLICY: Finally, one of Minister Douglas’ most significant contributions, apparently not remembered in the tributes I have read and heard so far, was the formulation of the ‘National Land Policy’ in the early 1990s, presented at the BOJ Auditorium at which I was privileged to have been present. It was the first time in my life that I fully appreciated the importance and correlation of a national land policy in relationship to economic development, people’s residential needs, access to our beaches and, most importantly, the protection of agricultural land and the environment.

HIS COMMITMENTS: Many would have had some disagreements with him, even sharp disagreements, but no one could doubt his patriotic love and commitment to Jamaica or to the People’s National Party, which he always knew was (Jamaica’s) best choice.

Best wishes to the family in this time of their bereavement. PAUL BURKE Member,

New Foundations Group