Aerial view of sections of the North-South Highway, which is to be named in honour of former Prime Minister Edward Seaga.
Despite objections by the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP), former Prime Minister Edward Seaga says that he deserves having the North-South Highway renamed in his honour, which Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced during the dedication ceremony of the Bustamante Museum in Kingston on Thursday.
Among PNP officers protesting the move are Vice-President Dr Angela Brown-Burke, spokesman for health Dr Dayton Campbell, and former Mayor of May Pen Scean Barnswell. According to both Campbell and Barnswell, the highway should be named in honour of former PNP Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller under whose administration the highway project commenced.
PNP-BACKED INTERNET PETITION
“With all due respect, the North-South Highway should be named Portia Simpson Miller Highway. Recognise the lady for her work,” Campbell argued.
That has been the stance of a PNP-backed petition circulating on the Internet. Furthermore, PNP supporters cite a 2002 Gleaner story in which Seaga, then leader of the opposition, said, “It was wrong for the Government to be concentrating on the multimillion-dollar project while several roads across the country were in disrepair.”
But Seaga has pushed back against his detractors.
“This highway is linked to two of the biggest projects that I have done being a minister and prime minister. One is building the Kingston Waterfront. The other is Ocho Rios, which I virtually recreated with the Turtle Beach, etc,” he told The Gleaner yesterday.
He further argued: “These people are absolutely ignorant. All along the way, I have been wanting to see something like (the highway connecting to the cities. Some grudgeful Comrades – that’s all they are,” quipped Jamaica’s fifth prime minister.
Only thing they should do is change tivoli name to seaga. He is the reason tivoli is the mother of all garrisons. He did nothing for Jamaica but boost crime and now he is being rewarded. Sad.
Exactly! The man single handedly created the arms race within the country. He did help a lot of Tivolites thugs migrate to the USA. How did Jim Brown, Byah Mitchell and all those Shower Posse guys get Visa to travel to the US? “Fire for Fire, Blood for Blood”
Who ever start the highway should get that honor Portia push for the highway
How about dem name a shit house Seaga.. dat would mek way more sense.
Jamaica please reconsider this.
Some PNP women are some of the nastiest things in Jamaica. Listen to how you speak. So crass and uncouth. Keep going we are documenting you women and saving all the nasty vile things you all say over social media. PNP will be out of power for at least 20 years.