Angelo Laurence, Gleaner Writer

Yvonne Dacosta (left) widow of the late Norman Dacosta wipes the tears from her eyes while son Troy Dacosta looks on at the funeral service for their late husband and father at the Ridgemount United Church in Mandeville, Manchester yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

MANDEVILLE, Manchester:

Hundreds of persons filled the Ridgemount United Church on Main Street, Mandeville, yesterday, to bid farewell to trade unionist, Norman DaCosta, who committed suicide 11 days ago.

Known for his trade union activities, particularly in the bauxite sector as vice-president of the National Workers Union (NWU), Mr. DaCosta succumbed to a self-inflicted gunshot wound at his home in Cross Keys, south Manchester, on November 17.

After a soul-stirring rendition of the hymn Praise to the Almighty by artiste Dwight Richards and company, along with the congregation, general secretary of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions, Lloyd Goodleigh, read the first tribute.

He said DaCosta's death was untimely and a tragedy, but should be a "lesson to the living to take time to reflect on the past with one's conscience as a guide." Deputy Island Supervisor of the NWU, Danny Roberts, said there was never enough time to list the many contributions and achievements of DaCosta on behalf of Jamaican workers.

In a message from Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, read by DaCosta's sister Molly Rhone, she called DaCosta a man of integrity who spoke his mind regardless of who did not like it, with a single purpose which was to fight for the workers' rights.

In his tribute read by Senator Trevor Munroe, former NWU president, Clive Dobson, termed DaCosta a person who was "missunderstood" by some around him resulting in some of the very workers who he fought for turning against him. Dacosta he said represented the workers unreservedly. Dobson also called for a monument to be put in place to mark the many achievements he made on behalf of the bauxite workers.

Son Dion, who read the remembrance, said his father was passionate about his duties in the bauxite sector on behalf of the workers. "We are proud of our dad, he was devoted to the cause of the working class," Dion said. One of DaCosta's three sons, Dion asked that his father be remembered as an "energetic, informed, just, vocal and kind-hearted man". He described his father as a dedicated family man who made the sacrifice to see that his children received an education and one who spent quality time with them.

Reverend Oliver Daley who delivered the sermon, said life is like the weather, it can change from good to bad at any moment.

Among those who attended yesterday's thanksgiving service were trade unionist Lambert Brown, Derrick Rochester, former Member of Parliament, Speaker of the House, Michael Peart, Lance Neita of Alpart, Patrick Anderson, Maria Tia Chung and Nelson Barton of Windalco. The congregation also included a wide cross section of workers from all walks of life and the business sector.

Mr. DaCosta leaves to mourn wife Yvonne, sons Dion, Troy and André, sisters Mrs. Molly Rhone, Mrs. Hermine Samuels, brother Anthony and a host of other family members and friends.