National Hero and Jamaica’s first Prime Minister, The Right Excellent Sir William Alexander Bustamante was honoured on Wednesday, February 24, during two Floral Tributes held to commemorate the 137th Anniversary of his birth. The ceremonies which were organized by the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), an agency of the Ministry Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in conjunction with the Hanover Municipal Corporation, commenced at 9:00 a.m. at both the National Heroes park  in Kingston and at Sir Bustamante’s birthplace in Blenheim, Hanover.

 

The Governor General, His Excellency the Most Honourable Sir Patrick Allen led the group of tribute layers who convened at the National Heroes Park while Honourable Dr. David Stair, CD, JP, Custos of Hanover, led the group of tribute layers who gathered at the birthplace of the National hero. Also in attendance were other Members of Government and the Diplomatic Corp.

Honourable Alando Terrelonge, MP, Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport in delivering remarks on behalf of the Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Minister Olivia Grange in Kingston, noted that, “Sir Alexander Bustamante was among a group of patriotic and noble persons who helped to give Jamaicans true freedom and laid the foundation for the wonderful, independent and democratic society that we have today…He had a vision of a better Jamaica…where all Jamaicans could have equal opportunity.”

Both ceremonies featured tributes in speech and music by past and current JCDC Festival of the Performing Arts awardees.