Devon Dick
THREE DAYS before Eric Downie died, his son, Omar, in giving his groom's reply at his wedding, used the opportunity to proclaim his father Eric Downie, 'a great man'. Many persons will agree with him. The Jamaica Teachers Association would no doubt call him great because he served that organisation with distinction and is one of the few persons to have served both as president of the JTA and also secretary general.
Under his stewardship the JTA office operations were computerised, members of staff trained to use the technology and a computer laboratory for the training of teachers was also established. He was also a member of the Teachers' Services Commission, National Council of Education and Mico Board of Directors.
HUMBLE SERVICE
He also served as president of the Jamaica Association of Teacher Educators. Byron Farquharson of the Caribbean Union of Teachers spoke about Downie's humble service to the organisation as an executive member. The Prime Minister, The Most Honourable PJ Patterson alluded to his greatness when he asserted that Downie's interest in education, 'transcended his desire for better working conditions and remuneration for teachers...his four decades of work in education and the quality of his contribution are not easily matched by anyone'.
Many organisations recognised Downie's invaluable contribution to education and he therefore was the recipient of numerous awards including the prestigious JTA Roll of Honour Award, Mico Centenary Award and the Kiwanis Club of Kingston Award. What is hard to fathom is that the request for Eric Downie to get a National Award has not yet been granted. Happily, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture recognised Downie's contribution to education and in particular his 13 years as vice-principal of Mico where he was instrumental in the development of the preliminary programme, so much so that the students dubbed him the 'Godfather of prelim'. He believed firmly in giving students a second chance at academics.
In addition, Jack Delisser of the Kingston Kiwanis club spoke about his service to the club even while he was not in the best of health. He also served on the PNP's Task Force on Education in the 1980s which help to determine the education policy of the 1990s. He served on the Cinematographic Board of Jamaica and was treasurer of the Mount View Citizens' Association. He was also known for his business acumen and was asked to serve on the important Jamaica Tourist Board.
He owned a bookstore and was into farming, goat rearing in particular. I remember his advice he gave me when I was writing my book, Rebellion to Riot: The Jamaican Church in Nation Building. When he read the draft he said it had too much prose and I needed more tables, figures and illustrations. He further told me that I should publish a list of all the churches in Jamaica because no other book had that.
WISE
He was a wise businessman. He was a noted historian who having graduated from Mico, the University of the West Indies (Irvinite) and Bristol University, UK, taught history for many years at his alma mater, Mico. Fellow deacon of the Boulevard Baptist Church, Inet Clarke in paying tribute to him at his funeral service mentioned his monumental contribution as chairman of the Diaconate and as the first Sunday School Superintendent of the morning Sunday school at the church. Norah Allen gave a tribute on behalf of the Point Hill community, his place of birth, and the people of Point Hill adored him.
Eric Downie was a family man who loved his wife and two sons. His wife, a former Vice-Principal of Pembroke Hall Primary School, was his constant companion in teaching and church life. The two were inseparable whether it was attending a marriage enrichment retreat or being on their European tour where they went to, among other places, Austria, or being at church. But perhaps his greatness can be best understood by his last public statement. A life lived to the fullest and marked by a love for God, family and people. After his son hailed him as a great man at the wedding reception, he responded spontaneously in a loud voice, 'Love you too, my son'.
Rev Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church and author of Rebellion to Riot: The Church in Nation Building
