Senate Pays Tribute to Late Former Member and Government Minister, Delano Franklyn

The Senate, on Friday (March 17), paid tribute to late former member, Delano Franklyn, during its sitting at Gordon House.

Mr. Franklyn, who was an Attorney-at-Law, also served as Chief Advisor to former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. P.J. Patterson, and Special Advisor to former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller.

He passed away on February 10, 2023, at the age of 63.

Government and Opposition members paid their respects at the invitation of Senate President, Hon. Tom Tavares-Finson.

In his tribute, Government Senator, Kavan Gayle, described Mr. Franklyn as a very distinguished gentleman, “who was always thinking outside of the box”.

“He served with distinction in the Senate, and at the time he served, he was also the Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where he gave exemplary service in supporting that Ministry,” Senator Gayle stated.

Opposition Senator, Donna Scott Mottley, remembered him as a person who embraced whatever he did with passion and served diligently.

“Delano, in the 63 years he lived, occupied many positions and stood on many stages. He was an attorney-at-law, notary public, author, politician, father and husband. But, I daresay, one of the things that made him proudest is that he was a ‘Fortis’ [Kingston College Old Boy] and, indeed, the way in which the Fortis community rallied around him during his illness, you can see that it was a mutual feeling from them,” she stated.

Senator Scott Mottley said Mr. Franklyn played an integral role in deepening the relationships between Jamaica and the diaspora.

“When he was Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, [from] 2000 to 2007, he was given special responsibility for the Jamaican Diaspora and overseas, so that the first National Diaspora Conference, which was held in 2004, and which now takes place on [a biennial] basis, was held under the theme ‘The Jamaican Diaspora: Unleashing the Potential’; and Delano felt passionately that there had to be a stronger connection between Jamaica and the Diaspora,” she informed.

Senator Scott Mottley added that Mr. Franklyn was the first person to moot the possibility of having a Senator who would represent the Diaspora.

“We extend our condolences to his wife, his family, [and] to his numerous friends,” she stated.

Opposition Senator, Lambert Brown, said Mr. Franklyn served the nation with dignity and composure.

He said Jamaica has lost a compassionate soul, who cared for the people and spent his entire life serving humanity.

“From Jamaica, far and wide, we respect and recognise Delano’s service to humanity. For those of us who sang with him in the trenches, ‘forward march’, we will miss you Delano; for those of us who sang the international with you, we will miss you Delano. Gone too soon, brother,” he said.

The members also observed a minute’s silence in honour of Mr. Franklyn, who was a member of the People’s National Party (PNP).

He was laid to rest following a funeral service on Friday (March 17).