US embassy cable - 05KINGSTON129

UNCLAS KINGSTON 000129 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR THE SECRETARY AND WHA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OVIP, PREL, JM 
SUBJECT: SECRETARY INVITED TO BE KEYNOTE SPEAKER AT BANQUET 
 IHO EDWARD SEAGA'S RETIREMENT FROM ACTIVE POLITICAL LIFE 
 
1. (U) This is an action request.  See Paragraph 5. 
 
2. (U) On January 13, Embassy received by messenger a letter 
addressed to the Secretary from Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) 
Senator Bruce Golding (full text at Para. 4).  In it, Golding 
informs the Secretary that JLP parliamentarians are planning 
to hold a banquet in honor of former Prime Minister and 
Opposition Leader Edward Seaga's retirement from active 
political life.  Seaga served 43 years in Parliament 
representing the same West Kingston constituency, including 
nine years as Prime Minister of Jamaica.  Noting the 
Secretary's "close connections with Jamaica and the high 
 
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esteem in which you are held by the Jamaican people," the 
letter invites the Secretary to be the keynote speaker at the 
banquet, which would be held in late February or early March, 
subject to the Secretary's availability. Prime Minister P.J. 
Patterson and Governor General Sir Howard Cooke will also be 
invited to pay tributes at the banquet. 
 
3. (U) The letter originated with Golding's approach to the 
Ambassador at a dinner on January 5, when he first raised the 
idea and requested that she convey an invitation to the 
Secretary.  Pol/Econ Chief subsequently contacted Golding to 
 
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ask that the invitation be put into writing.  Golding again 
emphasized the bipartisan nature of the planned banquet, 
which he said would be funded by corporate sponsors to ensure 
that it would be as apolitical as possible. 
 
4. (U) Begin text: 
 
The Honourable Colin L. Powell 
Secretary of State 
 
SIPDIS 
US Department of State 
2201 C. St. NW 
Washington DC 20520 
 
Dear Mr. Secretary, 
 
The Leader of the Opposition, the Most Honourable Edward 
Seaga, will retire form Parliament and active politics on 
January 19th.  He will have completed 43 years of unbroken 
service to Parliament - the longest in our history - 
including his tenure as Prime Minister between 1980 and 1989. 
 
The Opposition parliamentarians propose to hold a banquet to 
honour him for his long and distinguished service to the 
people of Jamaica.  This will be a non-partisan event at 
which the Governor General and the Prime Minister will be 
invited to pay tributes. 
 
Having regard to your close connections with Jamaica and the 
high esteem in which you are held by the Jamaican people, we 
and Mr. Seaga, himself, would be delighted if you would 
consent to be the keynote speaker at this gala event.  We 
contemplate staging this banquet toward the end of February 
or in early March and would determine the date based on your 
availability.  We would make all appropriate arrangements for 
your visit in consultation with the United States Embassy 
once we are advised of your availability. 
 
We sincerely hope that you will find it possible to accept 
our invitation and we look forward to your early response. 
 
 
Yours very sincerely, 
 
/s/ 
 
Bruce Golding 
 
5. (SBU) Comment and Action Request:  The 74-year-old Seaga, 
who will soon take up a professorship at the University of 
the West Indies, is a much-respected (and at times 
controversial) Jamaican institution who has been a major 
force since the country gained its independence in 1962.  For 
that reason, his departure from active political life is a 
momentous occasion.  Golding is aware that the Secretary will 
have returned to private life by the time the banquet takes 
place, and emphasized the organizers' willingness to 
accommodate his schedule should he agree to accept the 
invitation.  Request Department guidance on how to respond to 
the letter. 
COBB