Seaga Nominated for UNESCO Prize

Former Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Edward Seaga, has been nominated to receive a prize from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture, Hon. Olivia Grange, made the announcement while speaking at the Jamaica National Heritage Trust’s (JNHT) long service and special awards ceremony, held last week at the Courtleigh Auditorium, in Kingston.
Ms. Grange said that she was informed of the decision while attending the recently held UNESCO General Conference in Paris, France. She said that Mr. Seaga was nominated to receive a goodwill ambassador award, but this was rejected by UNESCO, since it was felt that he deserved much more than a goodwill ambassador post.
“And so we have nominated him for what is considered a UNESCO prize and we are awaiting the UNESCO’s response, but I am fairly confident that he will be recognised for his work,” she said.
Meanwhile, Minister Grange said that a decision has been taken by the Government to acquire National Hero, The Right Excellent Marcus Garvey’s birthplace in St. Ann. She said that the property will be restored and established as “one of the showpieces in St. Ann and to be treated as a heritage attraction.”
She thanked the staff members of the JNHT for the work they have been doing in preserving the many heritage sites in Jamaica.
“The JNHT has been doing its best with its limited resources to ensure that those sites are maintained and those sites become very much a part of our heritage trail,” she added.
At the ceremony, Mr. Seaga was among several individuals and organisations honoured by the JNHT. The former Prime Minister was presented with the Honour Award, the highest heritage award, for his outstanding contribution in the preservation and promotion of Jamaica’s heritage.
Merit Awards were presented to Professor Verene Shepherd, Mr. Ainsley Henriques and Professor E. Kofi Agorsah, for their outstanding work in the field of heritage advocacy, publication and heritage preservation. The awards were also given to the Greenwood Great House, located on the border of Trelawny and St. James; Mr. Michael Lakes and Associates and the Port Antonio Branch of the National Commercial Bank.