By Robert Hart, Staff ReporterWITH A baby in the house, Christmas will be quiet for the Seagas this year.
But the first family of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has still found time to bring a little joy into the lives of others.
Leader of the Opposition, Edward Seaga, accompanied his wife Carla, to deliver gifts to several ailing youngsters at the Bustamante Children's Hospital in St. Andrew yesterday, as part of the work of her two-year-old Social Support Fund (SSF).
In a Gleaner interview shortly after the presents were all distributed to the tiny tots, Mr. Seaga said he would be following tradition, spending Christmas day at home tomorrow.
"Usually a number of people drop in. Friends and family," he said.
But what about later in the day?
"After that we don't have anything planned because the baby is still young," Mr. Seaga added. The rest of the day will instead be spent "catching up on work."
The baby, Gabrielle Vendryes, is now just over a year old and will be blessing her parents' Christmas for the second year.
The Seagas will, however, be attending a Farewell Mass at the Stella Maris Church, St. Andrew, on Sunday.
During yesterday's gesture, Mr. Seaga betrayed the softer side of his persona when he was caught off-camera at times leaving gift-bags for sleeping babies, and comforting a little boy whose gift fell through a railing. The usually stoic Mr. Seaga was even seen telling another ailing youngster, "You soon get better little man."
But the day was not about the Leader of the Opposition. Instead, it was primarily for Janet Moore and her children family members who were viciously attacked by father, Wilford Rhoden.
Mrs. Seaga visited Ms. Moore and two of the three children, Tajoni Rhoden, six, and Kadi-Ann Rhoden, 11. The eldest child, Goldaine Anderson, 16, is recovering at the Kingston Public Hospital.
Mrs. Seaga said the initial intention was to provide support for the victims of violence, in keeping with the objective of the SSF. But when her husband heard she would be going to the hospital, "he said he would bring gifts for all the children."
Mrs. Seaga, who was visibly shaken by the suffering of the 174 ailing children, including babies suffering from cerebral palsy and a five-month-old with two broken legs, was welcomed with open arms by most of the 80 patients set to benefit from her gifts. Those children were between three years and 12 years old.
