Edward Seaga My Life & Leadership Volume 1

Edward Seaga is one of the outstanding politicians of Jamaican history, certainly the most creative and controversial. His autobiography offers a unique insight into the emergence of modern Jamaica, a journey characterized by inspiring idealism, ideological intrigue, bold strategizing, violent conflict and a triumphant finale. The young protege of legendary National Hero and Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, Alexander Bustamante, Harvard graduate Edward Seaga was drawn to the roots of Jamaican folk society as a live-in research student of the life of the poor in rural and inner-city communities. He rose dramatically through the political ranks to leadership of the JLP in 15 years after which he led the party for the next 30 years. As the youngest parliamentarian, he gave notice in his signature speech on the 'haves and have-nots', that his mission was to pull up the poor without pulling down the rich, because in a country with little wealth both capital and labour are mutually dependent in a symbiosis for success. This was Bustamante's underlying pragmatic philosophy too. In describing his own political journey Seaga gives a fascinating and enlightening commentary on Jamaica's modern history in unprecedented detail on the aspirations and achievements of governments over 50 years. His story gathers momentum as the country is ravaged by the ideological differences between the JLP and the opposing People's National Party, led by Michael Manley, culminating in the violence and terror of the 1976 State of Emergency. Volume 1 concludes dramatically with the JLP's return to power - and Edward Seaga elected as Prime Minister of Jamaica.