Daraine Luton, Senior Staff Reporter

FORMER PRIME Minister and leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Edward Seaga, has called on the People's National Party Youth Organisation (PNPYO) to help protect the future of HEART/Trust NTA, the country's national training agency.

Seaga made the call Thursday night after being honoured by the PNPYO for creating the HEART Trust.

In a brief address, Seaga said he had heard whispers about a desire to change the mission of HEART and asked that the PNPYO not allow it to happen.

"I have built many, many institutions in my 45 years of political life, but I have always said I put HEART at the top because of the mission that HEART was given and which it performs, to help those who need to be helped; to be given a second chance when they have failed the first time around," Seaga said.

"I would hope that you would protect the original mission of HEART and not allow it to be transformed into some higher and more nobel cause," Seaga added.

First time for PNPYO

The honouring of Seaga marked the first time that a former JLP leader was being honoured by a PNP affiliate.

In his charge to the young Comrades, the former prime minister said that even though there was need for training at all levels of the society, there was an immense need for the training of people with no skill.

"That is the purpose that HEART now serves. I want it to continue forever until at last one day we say we do not have a need for training of that kind," Seaga said to a room filled with the political rivals of the party he once led.

The PNPYO said that Seaga was a nation-builder and hailed him for establishing HEART.

"This marks an important occasion for coalition caucuses, as against blind partisanship, in the spirit of national development," Ricardo James, the general secretary said.

Seaga said he had no hesitation in attending the function at which his long-time friend David Coore was being recognised.

Lifelong vision for Jamaica

"This is just another step in a somewhat different direction of pursuing something which is my own lifelong vision of one Jamaica," Seaga said.

Seaga's seven-minute presentation was interspersed with several cheers from the audience. At one point he had the audience in stitches when he rebuffed a comment from David Coore that they were now in the departure lounge.

"I want him to know I am not in that. I still have plenty of vim, vigour and vitality," Seaga said.

The PNPYO, which is celebrating 40 years, also honoured party stalwarts and persons who have served the movement.

Norman Manley and Michael Manley were recognised posthumously.

The organisation also honoured former PNP president and prime minister P.J. Patterson, current party president Portia Simpson Miller, Howard Cooke, David Coore, Maxine Henry Wilson, Phillip Paulwell, Burchell Whiteman and Robert Gregory.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com