Professor Barry Chevannes (left), chairman of the Institute of Jamaica, presents a copy of the latest issue of the 'Jamaica Journal' to Edward Seaga. The launch of the journal was in commemoration of the 130th anniversary of the Institute of Jamaica and was held at the Spanish Court Hotel in New Kingston. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

Former Prime Minister Edward Seaga's picture is on the cover of the new Jamaica Journal and he was at the Spanish Court Hotel, New Kingston, on Sunday afternoon as it was presented to the public.

Addressing the audience, Seaga commented on the cover design, summing up the use of red, the images his picture is set against, and the use of silhouette. "I look so mysterious," Seaga said to laughter. "The cover invites you inside."

Seaga's article in the Jamaica Journal is entitled 'A Life on a Cultural Mission' and covers his work in Buxton Town, St Catherine, in 1953 through to his contribution to Jamaican culture during his political life. This includes the concept of the multi-disciplinary Cultural Training Centre (now the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts) and a plan to develop the Seville, Spanish Town and Port Royal historical sites, under which Seville and Port Royal's commercial activities would be used to finance the development of a national museum in Spanish Town.

Not enough know

Jamaica Journal editor, Dr Kim Robinson, pointed out another contribution which Seaga did not mention. "Mr Seaga says not enough people know of the Jamaica Journal," Robinson said, asserting that not enough people know of Seaga's contribution to Jamaica's cultural life, including the idea for a Jamaica Journal.

"It was with great pleasure I took on the task of doing an issue that is in some small way a tribute to him," Robinson said.

Among the numerous other articles in the full-colour, glossy 136-page edition of the Jamaica Journal are 'The Revival Table: Feasting with the Ancestors and Spirits' by Clinton Hutton, 'Disinterring History at Papine' (Suzanne Francis Brown), 'Cover Versions: A Bag of Tools, a Shapeless Mass and a Book of Rules' (Omar Davies), 'Christopher Gonzalez - 1943-2008' (David Boxer, Hope Brooks, Petrine Archer) and 'The Crab Invasion of 2006' (Karl A. Aiken and Anita R. Pal).

History lost

In her address at Sunday's launch, hosted by Professor Barry Chevannes, Robinson put Seaga's unheralded contributions in the context of "history being lost. We have such short memories. There are so many aspects of our development and culture that get lost so quickly".

"I think this is one of the critical roles of the Jamaica Journal, to document our development, our culture," Robinson said.

Seaga called for a physical storehouse of those memories, saying, "I long to see the day when this country has a place for displaying all its artefacts, a National Museum of Jamaica. We have no museum, but we have artefacts."

Location

There was laughter when, ruminating on the location of such a museum, Seaga said, "If this function was held downtown I would not see half of you. We need a place - not uptown, because we can't exclude the creative artists - mid-town."

Seaga was the first person to be presented with a copy of the Jamaica Journal Vol 32 Nos 1-2, then representatives of the Spanish Court Hotel, the National Library of Jamaica, the Jamaica Library Service and Shortwood Teachers' College.

Clover Johnston of the Institute of Jamaica gave thanks all round, Robinson previously thanking all who contributed to the making of the Jamaica Journal. Saxophonist Damon Riley started Many Rivers to Cross from the back of the room, ending facing an appreciative audience, and the Akwaaba Drummers filled the courtyard with music.

The Akwaaba Drummers provided entertainment