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.... WED ESDAY, THE DAILY GLEANER, MARCH 20, 1985

'He did n t flinch from ... duty' But while the public man was first and eaga's tribute foremost a politician, he was also a husband, a father and a son. Those private roles were to Tom Adams fulfilled with a care and concern which did not seek publicity, or allow his loved ones to. become The following is an extract from the remem­ enmeshed in his political battles. His favourite brance given by the Rt. Hon. , hobbies were two very private ones -gardening 'Prime Minister of , at yesterday eve­ and stamp collecting. He was also a phorogra­ pher, a rurfite and, like most Barbadians, . a ning's memorial service for the Rt. Hon _ J.M.G.M. (Tom) Adams, late Prime Minister of cricket fan. As Dean Crichlow ot said Barbados, in the University Chapel, Mona: after his death: "He loved life and lived it to the " .. .It is primarily as a leader that full with never a dull moment." we remember him today. The setting is very Speaking for my wife and myself, we have lost appropriate, because the University was one of a friend whose wit and warmth were a leaven in first I got to know Tom Adams not , the concrete expressions of the Caribbean our friendship. � consciousness which grew out of the political only in our CARICOM Heads of overnment and social struggles of the 1930's and 40's, and meetings, but also in gathering; ot Common­ it remains today a symbol of that consciousness. wealth Finance Ministers, and a a fellow Gover­ Tom Adams lived his life conscious not only nor on the boards of the Caribbean Development of his personal heritage, but of the dreams Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the which so abruptly vanished in 1961. While World Bank. On those occa;ions l learnt to value cherishing the political and economic freedom and regard his views and his advice, given selfles­ of national independence, he was tireless in sly and frankly, with the interest of the Caribbe­ sustaining that spirit of regional integration in an Community at heart. which his father and other Caribbean politicians Jamaica of course knew Tom Adams well. He had invested so much of their time and energy. was here on several occasions as Finance Min­ The Caribbean Community has passed ister and Head of Government, most notably in through difficult times in its relatively short life. 1982 when he paid us an official visit. He was The insrirutions of the Community have come with us last just over three weeks ago for the under tremendous economic and political pres­ meeting of Heads of Government of the Com­ sures. At such times the quality of personal monwealth Caribbean and Canada. We remem­ leadership and the strength of political will are ber poignantly hi; energetic and informed partici­ crucial factors in whether a venture succeeds or pation in that gathering, and will mis; him keenly fails. That leadership and that will are not in those to come. lacking in the Caribbean Community, and they The Caribbean region ha lost a friend and were not found wanting in Tom Adams. leader who gathered in his person our highe t From hi1 earliest days as Prime Minister, his shared ic1uk May God rest hi; soul." personal commitment to and concern for the 1he Hon. llillie Miller, Minister of Education Caribbean Community was clear. While firm in for Barbados, was the special guest at the service. 'the interest of his native country, he was equally insistent on the value of our regional familiar She had been responsible for co-ordinanng the institutions. As successive crises unfolded, Tom arrangements for the funeral of the Mr. Adams would argue long and eloquently to preserve the in Barbados. integrity of that family. That it still prevails is no small tribute to his effort. Also attending the service were: the Governor­ Gcneral, the Most Hon.Sir Florizel Glasspole Caribbean Heads of Government had looked O.N. and Lady Glasspole, the Hon. Alva Ross, forward to gathering in Barbados in 1985 - but Speaker of the House of Representatives, the in July, to renew our political commitment to the Hon. Jeanette Gram-Woodham, President of the region, not, as it turned out. in March, to mourn Senate, Hon. Ed Bartlett. Minister of Youth and the passing of a colleague, brother and friend. Community Development, the Hon. Kenneth Growing up in the house of his father, who Baugh, Minister of Health, the Hon. Mavis gave up an illustrious practise to become the Gilmour, Minister of Education, the Hon. Ne­ political champion of the Barbadian working \ ille Gallimore, Minister of Social Security, che class, it would have been surprising if Tom had Hon. Karl Samuda. Minister of State for Industry chosen a different path. Years later he said: "My and Commerce, Colonel I e<;lie Lloyd f\1.P., ambition was for political service." The emphasis Senaror Hy<1cinth Ligbtbourne, Senator Keith on service was characteristic of the man, and Worrell and Senator Emil George. embodies the highest ideal of political activity. That activity and the ideals which fuelled it The Hon. Edward Zacca, Chief Justice, Mr. over more than forty years, were grounded in a A.Z.Preston, Vice-Chancellor of the U.W.I., Dr. passionate belief in the democratic ethic in Aubrey haser, Mr. P.j.Patterson, Mr. Carl Rat­ political life. He believed that such a system was tray, Mr. Dudley Thompson, Mr. Leacroft Rob­ the tradition and birthright of the English-speak­ inson, Dr. Ronald Irvine and Mrs. Irvine and Mr. ing Caribbean, and when thar belief was put to Martin Modecai and several members of the the ultimate test in , he did nor flinch diplomatic community. from doing what he saw to be his duty. Officiaring clergy were: thL Rt. Rev. ev1lle And at a more pen;onal level, he had reck­ OeSouza, Anglican Bishop of Jamaica, the Mo t oned the cost of that belief. A few years ago, the Rev. Samuel Carter S.J., Roman Catholic Arch­ man who had never tasted elecroral defeat said: bishop, the Very Rev. J.A.H. Ram,ay, the Rev. "I anticipate that before I die I will have rhe Ian McPherson, the Rev. Laurence Small. a opportunity to be a Government backbencher in colleague of Mr. Adams in his earlier da}S and Barbados." He clearly looked forward to a long who gave the Homily, and the Rev. Dr. W.A. life of service, which tragically, was not to be. Be1..kles.

The Fellow�hip Choir of the ( hurch of the Transi1guratic:m, the U\XT Ch.ipel Choir and the l.Jn1vers1ty Singer<. as well .1� orgamst Mr. Michael Bryne, performed.

( -Shaw pho10 Prime Minister Edward Seaga, left, gestures to the Hon. Billie Miller, right, Minister of Education in Barbados, following the Memorial Service for the late J.M.G.M. Adams, former Prime Minister of Barbados, in the University Chapel, Mona, yesterday. At centre is the IL;i. Dr. Mavis Gilmour, Minister of Education. The visiting Barbadian Minister rep­ resented her country's Government at the service which was attended by a large gathering of Jamaican officials and foreign diplomats.