RONALD THWAITES, 1988

Defender of the disadvantaged

THE NAME Ronnie Thwaites has for years been synonymous with public service.

Since his early days as a radio talk-show host at the former Jamai-ca Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Thwaites has acquired the reputation as a defender of the rights of the disadvantaged.

His activism led to him to establishing the Jamaica Legal Aid Clinic in 1972. The clinic has helped scores of needy Jamaicans citizens to access decent legal representation in the island's courts.

In 1997 Mr. Thwaites carried this strident advocacy into politics when he became the People's National Party (PNP) MP for Central Kingston. For his outstanding contribution to public service, he received The Gleaner Honour Award in 1988.

Through his current morning radio talk-show on Power 106 this 56 year-old Rhodes Scholar, lawyer, businessman, deacon of the Roman Catholic Church and politician continues to fight against injustice and poverty in Jamaican society.

A backbencher in Parliament, Mr. Thwaites is known for his well-researched and incisive contributions to debates in the House and the committees on which he sits.

He continues to be one of the leading lights in the nation's politics and one of the country's best known public men.