Hugh Lawson Shearer

The Most Hon. Hugh Lawson Shearer's body will lie in state at the following venues:
July 14	Vere Technical High School, in Hayes, Clarendon
July 15	The BITU Headquarters, on Duke Street in Kingston
July 16 and 17	The National Arena, Independence Park, in Kingston

QUOTE
Our trade union movement has not only preserved the rights and liberties of the working man and his family, but has also made a major contribution to the re-distribution of the resources and incomes produced in the society. Indeed, the trade union movement is probably more advanced and more developed in Jamaica than in any other country in the world. I am now telling all Jamaica that our country owes a great deal of gratitude to the trade union movement for the preservation of our democratic rights.
The Most Hon. Hugh Lawson Shearer

	GOVERNOR-GENERAL’S TRIBUTE TO THE LATE MOST HON. HUGH LAWSON SHEARER

	The Most Honourable Hugh Lawson Shearer, ON, PC, OJ, LLD (Hon) was one of the great leaders of our time. He was very profound, full of knowledge, yet never bumptious or arrogant. Whether it was at the United Nations or some small meeting in the village, he was a leader who impressed all those around him. He was one of those persons who was so blessed that he was comfortable whether he was with royalty or the sugar worker. With unusual tolerance he would examine every problem presented to him and you could rely on him for objectivity. On many occasions I sought his advice, particularly when I was Minister of Labour. At each time he showed how much he was full of knowledge, always ready to express compassion towards the worker. As one of the first Prime Ministers of Independent Jamaica, Mr. Shearer did much to advance the upward social mobility of our people and country and this was particularly evident in his programme on school building, which broadened the accessibility to persons from all levels of society. He did much also to improve on the country’s infrastructure, primarily its roadways and saw to the strengthening of its economic base.



	TRIBUTE TO FORMER PRIME MINISTER MOST HON. HUGH SHEARER AT JOINT SITTING OF HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT TUESDAY, JULY 13 2004 PRIME MINISTER, MOST HON. P.J. PATTERSON

	This is the first occasion that a Joint Session of the Senate and House of Representatives has ever been held to pay tribute to one of our own. Who better to establish this precedent than the Most Hon. Hugh Lawson Shearer who, in over half a century of public life, has served the people of Jamaica as labour leader par excellence, councillor, member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister and Prime Minister. Since his passing, the many tributes from his colleagues, constituents, and a wide cross section of the Jamaican people have served to convey the true measure of the man, the height of his ideals, the breadth of his sympathy, the depth of his convictions and the length of his patience. In addition to these well-deserved encomiums, this supreme legislative body of our land has the responsibility to record for posterity, our appreciation of a colleague, a friend, an elder statesman and, above all, a fine human being.



	TRIBUTE TO THE MOST HON. HUGH LAWSON SHEARER, O.N., P.C. BY THE MOST HON. EDWARD SEAGA, O.N., P.C., M.P., LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

	The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) announces with deep regret the passing of former Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Hugh Lawson Shearer, O.N., P.C. He died at his home in Hope Pastures this morning after a prolonged illness. Mr. Shearer served Jamaica as Prime Minister from 1967-72, succeeding Sir Donald Sangster who passed away in April 1967 after a sudden illness. Mr. Shearer was a gentle giant straddling the trade union movement and holding the reins of government, the two pillars of Jamaica’s modern history. He served as a Parish Councillor in the Kingston & St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) in 1947-51 and a Member of Parliament for West Kingston, 1955-59, and later for South Eastern Clarendon, 1967-93. He served also as Senator in the intervening years.