Jamaicans Say Farewell to Dudley Thompson

Jamaicans from all walks of life paid their last respects to Ambassador, the Hon. Dudley Thompson on Friday Feb. 10th.

The Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, downtown Kingston, where the official funeral service was held, was packed to capacity, as the country's leaders, representatives of academia, the business sector, civil society, the diplomatic corps, and ordinary Jamaicans, turned out to bid farewell to the man, who commanded the respect of many.

Among those in attendance were Governor General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen; Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller; former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson; and Leader of the Opposition, Hon. Andrew Holness.

In her tribute to the late Ambassador, Mrs. Simpson Miller stated that she was exceedingly proud to have known and worked with him, noting that she benefited from their long association.

She said Ambassador Thompson gave distinguished public service as a Senator, Member of Parliament, Leader of Government Business, Minister of State, and at different times, Minister with responsibility for Foreign Affairs, Mining and Natural Resources, and National Security.

She added that he gave distinguished representation to the people of Western St. Andrew, and was firm and unwavering in empowering people with the tools for self-development.

"He was a fiery and feisty legislator, and the records of Parliament contain numerous accounts of his exchanges in defence of the people. Dudley was like an unruffled pool of strength, wisdom, knowledge and efficiency; exuding passionate intensity in his concern for the training and development of ourpeople,” Mrs. Simpson Miller said.

She said she will miss him dearly and he will be remembered for his significant contribution to the Parliament and the development of the country. 

“I will miss his encouragement, I will also miss his jokes, and his quick turn of phrase. To his dear wife Cecile, his children, and other members of his family, I express sincere condolences on behalf of all Jamaica. I am grateful to the family, that they shared him so generously with Jamaica and the rest of the world,” the Prime Minister said.

For her part, Margaret Cezair Thompson described her father as a proud Jamaican and a Pan-Africanist.

She said that while he often awed colleagues and the larger public with his brilliance, exactitude, and the intensity of his convictions, he was even more so luminous to those closest to him. “He led our family with his own exemplary self-discipline and high standards,” Miss Thompson recalled.

"Words of praise were hard to win and when we received from him praise, we drew greater confidence to live by. He respected tradition, law and order, but questioned those conventions that seemed meaningless,” she added.

In his remarks, Leader of the Opposition, Andrew Holness noted that Ambassador Thompson had distinguished himself in international fora and in the court rooms of the world through Africa, Europe and the Americas in the fight and struggle for the respect and freedom of the black race.

“His biography will show that he was born in Panama, but raised in Westmoreland. He was a student at Mico College and he was the youngest headmaster of a rural school. He was a Rhodes Scholar and a barrister. Very few persons can boast his resume of service, achievement advocacy and activism,” Mr. Holness said.  

He further noted that, Ambassador Thompson’s memory and legacy should not be confined to eloquent speeches.

"Today, we ponder the revision of the curricular of our schools to ensure that generations of Jamaicans to come are immersed in the philosophies and teachings of our National Heroes and Heroine. As we embark on this path to enshrine our history in the minds of our people, let us not forget the efforts and contributions of Dudley Thompson,” Mr. Holness stated.

In the meantime, President of the Mico University College, which Ambassador Thompson attended, Professor Claude Packer, noted that he was an advocate for the institution.

"I owe it to Dudley Thompson for putting the concept of the poor man’s university in context and hinting vividly at that time of my tenure, that the Mico institution must change to preserve its legacy. I learnt over a period of 15 years with Dudley, the power of possibility thinking, and that colour is not an issue in terms of achievement,” Professor Packer said.

There were also tributes from the Ardenne High School Speaking Ensemble; President of the World African Diaspora Union, Leonard Jeffries; and Minister Louis Farrakhan from the Nation of Islam.  

Ambassador Thompson was interred at the Briggs Park Military Cemetery, Up Park Camp. His final resting place is reserved for service men and members of the Jamaica Defence Force. Ambassador Dudley Thompson saw active duty as a Flight Lieutenant during the Second World War.

By Latonya Linton, JIS Reporter