MR SPEAKER, I JOIN THE NATION IN MOURNING THE PASSING OF A PATRIOT THE MOST HONOURABLE LADY GLADYS BUSTAMANTE, A MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF JAMAICA.
I FIND IT HARD TO REFER TO THE LADY IN THE PAST TENSE, BUT THE FINE LADY WAS: A PIONEER; A VISIONARY; A TIRELESS CRUSADER FOR A BETTER JAMAICA; MOTHER TO ALL; FRIEND TO ALL.
LADY BUSTAMANTE DEDICATED HER LIFE TO WORKING FOR THE POOR AND THE DISPOSSESSED. SHE WAS QUITE THE UNASSUMING LADY, BUT SHE WAS UNQUESTIONABLY EFFECTIVE.
NO, SHE NEVER SOUGHT OUT THE LIMELIGHT – THAT WASN’T HER STYLE. BUT SHE SOUGHT TO ENSURE, TO THE BEST OF HER ABILITY, THAT THE JOB WAS DONE AND DONE WELL.
LADY B, AS WE CALLED HER WITH GREAT AFFECTION, WAS INVOLVED IN SEVERAL CHARITABLE PURSUITS. SHE WAS INVOLVED IN SOCIAL WORK THROUGHOUT JAMAICA. SHE TOUCHED AND HELPED TO IMPROVE MANY LIVES PARTICULARLY OF PORT WORKERS; SUGAR WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
THE LADY WAS PATRON OF THE BUSTAMANTE HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN. THAT MEANT A GREAT DEAL TO HER. FOR HER, IT WAS NOT A CEREMONIAL TASK. MR SPEAKER, WE WOULD FIND LADY BUSTAMANTE, VISITING, COMFORTING AND GIVING CHEER TO CHILDREN THERE.
LADY BUSTAMANTE WAS, INDEED, THE MOTHER OF THE NATION.
THE LADY WAS TRUSTEE OF THE JAMAICA LABOUR PARTY OLD AGE PENSION COMMITTEE; A MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE JLP; AND HONORARY TREASURER OF THE BUSTAMANTE INDUSTRIAL TRADE UNION. THESE ROLES WERE IMPORTANT TO HER AND SHE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN EVERY ROLE.
LADY B, MR. SPEAKER WAS ALSO ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN. SHE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN THE CRITICAL REVISION OF THE PUBIC SERVICE REGULATIONS AMENDMENT TO RECIND THE PROVISIONS WHICH BARRED WOMEN FROM HOLDING JOBS AFTER MARRIAGE. MR SPEAKER, HAD IT NOT BEEN FOR LADY BUSTAMANTE, I WOULD NOT BE STANDING HERE TODAY AS A MEMBER OF THIS HONOURABLE HOUSE. LADY B, HELPED TO TEAR DOWN THE WALLS THAT PREVENTED WOMEN FROM ACHIEVING THEIR POTENTIAL. SHE DID THIS INCREDIBLE JOB, MR SPEAKER, AND STILL REMAINED A LADY.
AS A LASTING TRIBUTE TO THIS GREAT LADY, I URGE ALL WOMEN WHO HAVE ACHIEVED TO CONDUCT OURSELVES AT ALL TIMES AS SHE WOULD – WITH GRACE, WITH ELEGANCE, WITH PURPOSE, WITH LOVE, WITH CARE, WITH CHARM AND WITH HUMILITY.
MR SPEAKER, LADY BUSTAMANTE STOOD FAITHFULLY AND STEADFASTLY BY THE SIDE OF HER GREAT HUSBAND, NATIONAL HERO THE RIGHT EXCELLENT SIR ALEXANDER BUSTAMANTE. SIR ALEXANDER WAS ONE OF OUR NATION’S GREATEST FATHERS. HE ACHIEVED MUCH IN HIS WORK TO MAKE A BETTER JAMAICA, WITH JUSTICE, LIBERTY AND PROSPERITY. IN ALL THE CHIEF’S MANY TRIUMPHS AND SUCCESSES, LADY B WAS RIGHT THERE HELPING TO DO HIS WORK, BESIDE HIM, BEHIND HIM AND SOMETIMES AHEAD OF HIM.
SIR ALEXANDER, HIMSELF, PAID TRIBUTE TO HER WORK. WHEN SIR ALEXANDER WAS COMPRISING HIS CABINET IN 1962, HE SAID HAD JUST ONE REGRET “I WON’T HAVE MISS G IN MY CABINET – THE WOMAN WHO MADE ME”.
MR SPEAKER, I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE WILL BE ESTABLISHING THE THE LADY BUSTAMANTE MUSEUM AT THE BUSTAMANTE MUSEUM COMPLEX.
WALK GOOD LADY B. MAY HER SOUL REST IN PEACE
