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‘Babsy’ proud to care for Seaga monument
May 29, 2019
For more than a decade, Tanya 'Babsy' Gilson has been cleaning a bust of Edward Seaga, which was erected at the front of the Tivoli Gardens community in west Kingston in 2002.
The bust, which was unveiled on Seaga's 72nd birthday, showed the number of years he served the constituency and expressed gratitude for the dedication and love that he had for his community.
Given the mantle of caretaker for the statue, Gilson said that she does not have a problem putting in the hours because 'Uncle Eddie' did not hold back when he was giving to them.
"My nephew grandfather used to take care of it, and it happened that he got sick and so he left the key with me. From then till now, a just continue doing it," said Gilson.
She not only cleans the statue weekly, but she does it for free. When THE STAR spoke to Gilson yesterday, she was in the middle of cleaning the statue on Seaga's birthday and the day the 89-year-old legend died.
"I clean every weekend, enuh, and sometimes I just come and sit down and then decide to do it. I don't have a special day or special time. I have a likke shop across the road. I have been serving lunch to the Tivoli school for the past 23 years, and I come and catch water here sometimes as well," she said.
Opportunity of a lifetime
The 48-year-old mother of three said she would be forever grateful to Seaga because from stories she heard, he was one of the persons who took her mother under his wing and gave her the opportunity of a lifetime.
She said that there is no shame in cleaning the statue, as she sees this as the only way she would be able to repay him for what he had done.
"Mi mada tell mi seh from she 15 and fi har mada pass off, they wanted to take her to a home and Seaga drop in and seh no, he will pay for everything. This is one of the ways I find best to give back," she said. "I have three children and they have no problem to do this if necessary because they heard of the good things that he has done not only for me but for the community. He (Seaga) is a family man ... so all when mi a 80, if me still have the strength to come and do this, me a come. For Mr Seaga, mi a come do it man," she said.
