Heather Robinson
ON FRIDAY, July 29, my eldest sibling was killed in a motor vehicle accident on the Queens Highway in St Ann. Evan was 64 years old. Today, I crave your indulgence as I make reference to my tribute to my brother who is the first member of my family to die tragically. Portions of the tribute I paid to him are being reproduced because of their national significance.
It takes approximately nine months for a new life to come into this world. My brother Evan always told us the story of his birth in Sheffield, Westmoreland and his recollection of Dr. Hayden walking up the hill to deliver him at the teacher's cottage. Yet in the fraction of a second that life was taken away from us.
Part of the ritual that Evan and I had included exchanging political information, and so we would read the newspapers and discuss the latest developments in our party and country each morning at Linstone.
On Friday, July 29, we discussed among other things my column entitled 'Preserving the People's National Party'.
ALWAYS CARED ABOUT THE PNP
At times I thought that this was what was most important to Evan as he always cared about the PNP from his early days of campaigning with my father in the 1959 General Election in Western Westmoreland.
My last conversation with Evan took place about 40 minutes before his death. We spoke about a conversation I had just had with the president of our party, Comrade P.J. Patterson.
Evan had an unselfish passion for the PNP and party work and was always coming up with ideas as to how the party could do better especially in relation to recognising the work of old comrades and preserving our party's history.
I can still hear his robust laughter now as I told him what Comrade Leader had said when I explained the behaviour of a particular comrade to him.
But we both shared a concern about our party and where at times it appears to be heading. I can hear Evan now telling me "Tell them, if it will make a difference, go ahead". So here goes.
Evan Robinson wants to be able to recognise the PNP that he had grown up in. To that end my challenge today is that all those who have sought in recent times to put their personal interests before that of the PNP, STOP IT NOW. Follow the example of my brother whose heart enveloped all those with whom he came in contact.
Be kind-hearted, respectful and good to each other. Forgive those who persecute you. Evan had. Do good to all men, and always put the People's National Party first. It is only then that what you think is rightfully yours, will be. Be unselfish and selfless in your work for the PNP, and then you might just see Evan again one day.
Our six-year-old nephew Kwame, has a philosophical approach to Evan's death. He told his mother: "Mummy, I am not going to cry because Uncle Evan is dead. Because I know that when I die, I will see Uncle Evan again."
There are many things that are to be learnt from the tragic death of a sibling, and many things from death itself. Firstly, we must all live lives that will make our remembrances and tributes real to those who have to listen. Those who are asked to speak on these occasions must do so from the heart and unhesitatingly.
NO NEED TO USE UNPOPULAR WORDS
Those who seek to lead Jamaica in the future must try and visualise what persons will have to say about them at their state funerals. There is therefore no need to use unpopular words or phrases that were used by your opponent in defence of one's family.
There is, however, the need to prove that you really care about those who support you by doing the little things that can make a big difference in the lives of many persons.
At my brother's service of thanksgiving I presented the three presidential candidates present with pillow cases on which they could rest their heads as they work for the preservation of the PNP. The other two have since received theirs.
Ideally we should all try to live good lives, but those who ask us to elect them to represent us need to do so much more than us, normal, ordinary citizens of Jamaica.
Heather Robinson is a life underwriter and a former Member of Parliament.
