Ryan Peralto, was a councillor in the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation between 1981 and 1983, he served as Mayor of the capital city in 1981.
Peralto assumed the office of Mayor at a very challenging time in the history of our city, having just come out of the politically turbulent 1970s, and the economic recession of the 1980s and its grave political, economic and social consequences for the country.
Mr Peralto's contribution to our country as patriotic and selfless. He was a classic Jamaican gentleman in every sense of the word; the country is poorer for his passing,
Peralto, who sat on the EAC from 1990 to 2004, was instrumental in the development and establishment of the electronic voter verification system now used in the country's elections.
As a member of the EAC, Peralto fervently championed the use of the electronic system, even securing a patent in his name when he claimed that other members were tardy in securing the rights for Jamaica.
Peralto also authored a book - Insure Your Democracy - on the country's electoral system.
Peralto joined the JLP in 1977 and was elected deputy general secretary in 1984, and as General Secretary from 1985 to 1994. From 1994 to 1998 he was deputy chairman of the party before serving as chairman from 1999 to 2003.
In 1983 when the PNP boycotted the snap general elections, Peralto served as member of parliament for East Kingston until 1989. He was Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security in 1986, and was shifted to the Ministry of Industry and Trade in 1987, where he worked until February 1989 when the JLP lost power in a general election.
He was a Government Senator between 1980 and 1983 and then on the Opposition benches between 1991 and 2002.
Peralto is survived by his wife, Lorna, children and grandchildren, including sitting Government MP for South East St Mary Tarn Peralto.
