Former Maroon colonel laid to rest WESTERN BUREAU:THE BODY of former Accompong Town Maroon Colonel Sydney Peddie was laid to rest in the graveyard of the Accompong United Church in St Elizabeth last Saturday. The colonel died on August 11 at his home after ailing for some time. He was 81 years old. In the eulogy, Peddies cousin, ex-Colonel Meredie Rowe, often a harsh critic of his management style, said Peddie was a genuine man who meant his people well and that he had lived a full life. In 1993, I was successful in running for the post of colonel in the Maroon elections ... . I appointed Sydney Peddie as one of my deputies. After a while, things werent too right with us, but nobody could get between us because blood thicker than water, Rowe said. Colonel Peddie was a devoted Comrade (Peoples National Party supporter). He told me personally he would never sway, he would never bow, or surrender, Rowe added. Peddie was elected to serve as Colonel of the Accompong Town Maroons in 1999, after defeating the then incumbent, Rowe. He was also re-elected to the post in 2004. Among his major achievements were the renovation of the Accompong Town Museum, which he undertook with support from the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation and the Institute of Jamaicas Museums of History and Ethnography and the African Caribbean Institute of Jamaica/Jamaica Memory Bank. Peddies other achievements include the creation of a Bickle Village in 2004, in collaboration with the Tourism Product Development Company and the formation of the non-profit Accompong Development Foundation. Peddie was bestowed with the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) in 2005 for service to community development. He leaves behind his widow, a daughter, a step-daughter, seven sisters, five brothers and other relatives. The Ministry of Youth and Culture was represented at the funeral by principal director of that ministry, Dahlia Harris. claudia.gardner@gleanerjm
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 19:26:52 +0000