All in the family

Gareth Manning, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

It is well known that several of our politicians from both sides of the divide are related, whether by blood or marriage. Our political history is replete with it.

In the past, there was Sir Alexander Bustamante and Norman Manley, the founding fathers of both major parties, who were first cousins.

Then there were several other brothers and fathers and sons, and even husbands and wives, who were politically active at the same time in both parties.

The Sunday Gleaner had a chat with analyst and political historian Michael Burke last week and unearthed some of those interesting connections. Some may leave you saying 'Really? I never knew that!'

Bruce Golding and Pearnel Charles - brothers-in-law

This is a well-known one. Bruce Golding's wife, Lorna is the sister of Pearnel Charles.

Paul Burke and James Robertson - first cousins

The two men share the same grandfather, Rudolph Burke, a minister of government during the Norman Manley administration of the 1950s. One of his four daughters Hermenia Burke married Ishmael Robertson in 1964 and had three children, one of them being James.

Paul Burke and Andrew Gallimore - cousins

Joy Helen Burke, an aunt of Paul, married Gifford Gallimore, the eldest son of the Jamaica Labour Party's Aabuthnott Gallimore, Member of Parlia-ment for two St. Ann constituencies in the 1940s and '50s. Gifford is brother to Neville Gallimore, Andrew Gallimore's father, the JLP candidate for West Rural St. Andrew.

Edward Seaga and Andrew Gallimore - cousins

Gifford Gallimore's mother's maiden name was Maxwell. It was also the name of Edward Seaga's mother, who was a first cousin to Gifford's mother. That makes Andrew Gallimore and Edward Seaga's children third-generation cousins.

Paul Burke and Edward Seaga - cousins

Gifford Gallimore's children are first cousins to the Burkes, and second cousins to Seaga's children.

Edward Seaga and Michael Peart, Dean Peart - cousins

Edward Seaga is a second-generation cousin to the PNP Manchester candidates Dean and Michael Peart. It is not clear, but Seaga's mother is a first cousin to one of the brothers' parents.

Andrew Gallimore and James Robertson - cousins

James' aunt, Joy Helen Burke's marriage to Gifford Gallimore, the uncle of Andrew Gallimore, makes the two second-generation cousins by marriage.

Edward Seaga and James Robertson - cousins

Apart from their connection through the Gallimores, James' father's sister married an Englishman and had a daughter who became the wife of Andrew Seaga. So, James Robertson is a cousin-in-law to Seaga's son.

Paul Burke and K.D. Knight

The two are connected through Walter Vanvervin, who was an uncle-in-law to Paul Burke. Walter is first cousin to K.D. Knight's mother. Walter's son Peter, who would be second cousin to K.D., is also first cousin to Paul Burke and James Robertson.

James Robertson and Anthony Hylton

There could be a faint connection between these two men who ran against each other in 2002 for the West St. Thomas seat. Paul Burke's grandmother, Elsie Hylton Kenny, is a cousin to Anthony Hylton's grandfather. Paul Burke is a first cousin to James Robertson so the two could be related through Paul Burke.

Laurie Broderick and D.K. Duncan - cousins

It is not clear how they are connected, but the JLP's North Clarendon candidate and the Hanover East candidate are indeed cousins.

Stanley Redwood and Franklyn Witter - cousins

The genealogy behind their relationship is not clear either, but it is a fact that these two St. Elizabeth candidates are cousins.

gareth.manning@gleanerjm.com