Forrester hailed as a gem among peers
Published:Friday | September 19, 2025 | 12:13 AMMickalia Kington/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The sudden and tragic passing of Councillor Patrick Forrester has left a deep void in the Petersfield Division and the wider Westmoreland.
Forrester, a first-term councillor elected in February 2024 on the People’s National Party (PNP) ticket, died in a motor vehicle accident on Wednesday when the vehicle he was travelling in crashed into a derelict building in Whithorn.
Forrester was not just a politician, he was deeply embedded in his community. As president of the Petersfield Taxi Association, he was known as a passionate advocate for taxi operators and a tireless worker who often went above and beyond to assist members with complex documentation and bureaucratic hurdles.
“He’s a people person. Any problem you go there with, Forrester can relate to you, no matter what,” said Rick Taylor, a taxi operator from the Petersfield Taxi Association. “He can get things done for you. In my opinion, Forrester is a gem.”
Though their relationship was primarily professional, Taylor said his respect for Forrester grew through years of observing his leadership and commitment.
“If you have problems with your documents, he’d go beyond the extra mile to help the clients,” Taylor said. “I’ve never thought of using another taxi association. I hope somebody who is as competent and worthy as him can fill that space there.”
He added: “Forrester is the best president in Savanna-la-Mar,” he said. “Of all the associations, he’s the best. Everybody can say that.”
Savanna-la-Mar Mayor Danree Delancy, a close political colleague, was among the first to confirm the tragic news. Delancy described receiving the call as surreal, and he was later asked to identify Forrester’s body at the scene.
“I was in a state of disbelief when the news first came to me,” Delancy told The Gleaner. “I got a call from one of our officers at the corporation. She wasn’t sure. Then I got a call from a police officer, asking me if I would attend the scene after the accident, and I said yes.”
What followed was a moment no public official ever wishes to experience.
“When I went there, I was actually asked to identify the body. It was a really difficult task, believe me,” he said, his voice heavy with emotion. “Even talking now [puts] me in a state of sadness.”
Delancy remembered Forrester as a dedicated, respectful, and caring representative who always prioritised his constituents.
“He was always willing to lend a hand – a man who was never afraid to ask for assistance when needed or to ask for advice. He preferred to consult than to make a wrong step.”
In the wake of the tragedy, Delancy promised that Forrester’s vision and values would not be forgotten.
“For sure, things that he held dear to him, we will try our best to ensure that they continue,” he said. “He was always a man who put emphasis on education, and we’re going to continue that dream. He had some infrastructure projects and, as soon as it’s possible, we will continue those that have been started or begin those that haven’t.”
Delancy extended condolences on behalf of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation and himself to Forrester’s family and constituents. “Our thoughts are with his immediate and extended family, and especially his son,” he said.
Forrester’s son, who was in the vehicle during the accident, remains hospitalised in critical condition.
“I hope and pray that he pulls through quickly,” Delancy added.
Forrester’s political journey began in 2016 when he took on the role of PNP caretaker for the Petersfield Division. He lost the 2016 election but was victorious last year.
The National Caucus of PNP Councillors remembered him as a “dedicated public servant who represented the Petersfield Division in Westmoreland with passion and commitment”.