( L - R ) WRIGHT AND WILLIAMS
ERIC WRIGHT and Roy Williams, who helped to make the Port of Kingston one of the world's finest, passed on earlier this month. Both died of natural causes after giving a combined total of 70 years' service as stevedores. They will forever be remembered for their sterling contribution.
At this month's meeting of the Joint Industrial Council (JIC) for the Port of Kingston, a moment of silence was observed as a mark of respect. During the meeting the Shipping Association of Jamaica's (SAJ) General Manager, Trevor Riley, read an excerpt from the soon-to-be-published History of the SAJ, which states:
"There are those personalities on the Port of Kingston who helped in their own way to shape the character of the industry. Take Eric Wright, the first and only worker to move up the ranks from a union delegate to becoming an officer of the Bustamante Industrial Trades Union (BITU) and who died in February 2006.
"Mr. Wright argued that he was the longest-serving person on the port and attended JIC meetings up to December last year, just shy of his 92nd birthday. With his call sign being 'Production and Protection', Mr. Wright remained a proponent of old-style confrontational unionism, but he was never afraid to tell the workers when he thought they were wrong, while demanding that whenever the workers 'produced' at the expected levels, then it was the employers' jobs to ensure 'protection'.
President of the SAJ, Michael Bernard, conveyed the following message to Williams' family:
"Mr. Williams was an able and exemplary member of the SAJ team. He was a loyal and dedicated worker and in all his endeavours aimed for excellence. What we will remember most about him is that he maintained a very positive relationship with all in the port community and was a source of inspiration and encouragement to younger members to always give of their best.
MENTOR AND GUIDE
"On a personal note, I want to express my sadness at 'Uncle Roy's' passing because he was my mentor and guide when I started my career in the shipping industry some 35 years ago. I, like so many others, will be forever grateful for the invaluable contribution he has made to my own development. He was always willing to share his wisdom and knowledge and to play his part in making the Port of Kingston the best in the world."
Mr. Wright was a member of the Port Bustamante Pensioners' Association (PBPA) and Hubert Lasley, general secretary of the association, sent the following message on his passing:
"The Port Bustamante Pensioners' Association joins in mourning with the bereaved family of the late Eric Wright, member of the PBPA and officer of the BITU. Transportation for fellow pensioners to the funeral of Mr. Wright will leave the PBPA office at 2 Kirk Avenue at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, for the Church of the Resurrection, 1d Dickens Avenue, Duhaney Park, Kingston 20."
