Excerpt from Observer column published 21 September 2020
by Jean Lowrie-Chin
It is when we lose political leaders that we see the
collegiality among parliamentarians from all sides. Tribalist utterances are replaced by words of
respect and finally, we get to see the true mettle of the individual. And so it
is with the passing of Dr D. K. Duncan, who was regarded as the master planner
for the Michael Manley Government, and later, showing that he was more for
Jamaica than for Party, joined Bruce Golding’s erstwhile National Democratic
Movement.
Donald Keith Duncan studied dentistry at the Canadian
Ivy League McGill University and operated a respected practice. He could have lived a comfortable life, but
he decided to offer himself for service to country as a politician.
He inspired his children to have lives of service in
different spheres. We know of Patricia Duncan-Sutherland’s and Imani Duncan Price’s
political careers, but few are aware that after that the devastating 2010 Haiti
earthquake, Dr Khia Josina Duncan was a first responder, boarding a JDF flight
to assist in saving lives under dangerous conditions.
The twins Donna Duncan-Scott and Keith Duncan have
grown JMMB, the brainchild of their mother the late Joan Duncan, into a
regional financial powerhouse and Keith serves as President of the PSOJ and
Chairman of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee (EPOC). It was when CCRP
honoured activist-nurse Joy Crooks, founder of the Committee for the Upliftment
for the Mentally Ill (CUMI) that we discovered Donna’s strong support of the organisation.
So here we have a family, stirred to duty’s call, no doubt influenced by their patriotic
father.
DK’s widow, Beverley Anderson Duncan, shared in a
telephone call on Saturday, that “I can feel DK’s spirit, strong as ever” as
she discussed the importance of voter participation. She wants a movement for
civic responsibility to be led, not by any political organisation, but by civil
society. Even as she grieves for her husband, she will not allow it to cloud their
shared vision for an educated and engaged Jamaican society. I mourn with
Beverley who has been my wise mentor.
We may all not agree with his politics, but there is
no doubt that Dr DK Duncan has been a “good and faithful servant” of his
people. May his soul rest in peace.
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