The People’s National Party Honours the Legacy of Former MP Vin Edwards

January 4, 2025, Kingston, Jamaica:  The People’s National Party pays tribute to former Member of Parliament for St Mary Western and devoted member of the Party, Vincent ‘Vin’ Edwards. Dr. Deborah Hickling Gordon, PNP spokesperson on Culture and the Creative Industries  hailed the multifaceted Vin Edwards as a pioneer of the Jamaican Sound System movement.

According to Dr. Hickling Gordon, Vin Edwards lived the ideology of one of the PNP’s founding fathers, the Right Excellent Norman Manley.  In practice and precept, he grounded  his life’s work in the “continuous primary mission…to lift up the poor and the working class.”  Through the  early Jamaican grassroots creative movement, he used the Sound System to open doors and provide economic opportunities for popular acts including Pam Pam and and Persian the Cat.  Vin Lawrence and his brother George penned  “King Edwards” the Giant Sound System through which they made the careers of a wide range of DJs,  singers, record producers and  liquor shop owners possible,” she said.

“Vin Edwards was named amongst the mighty ‘Big three’ of Jamaican music, which also included the legendary Duke Reid and Coxon Dodd.  They worked tirelessly to give life and legs to the Jamaican musical forms Ska, Rock Steady and Reggae,” Dr Hickling Gordon remarked.

Dr. Hickling Gordon further highlighted Edwards’ pivotal role in the labour rights movement,  working in the National Workers Union, Vin Edwards was a champion for the rights of workers, standing firm in his beliefs as an unapologetic socialist. “Edwards later aligned himself with Michael Manley’s search for social justice and brought his ideological fervor to his service as Councillor for the Boscobel Division and later as MP for Western St. Mary. His commitment to uplifting the voiceless should  forever be remembered within the PNP,” noted Dr. Hickling Gordon.

Moreover, the racing industry will remember Edwards as a legendary horse trainer. “Who was dedicated to the industry,” she added.  The People’s National Party  hails Vincent ‘Vin’ Edwards—a patriotic and unfailing lifetime member, creative pioneer, and sportsman.”