(CNS Local Life): Premier Alden McLaughlin has paid tribute to Edward Seaga, the former Jamaican prime minister, who died Tuesday, 28 May, in Miami, on his 89th birthday. McLaughlin said he was deeply saddened to have learned of the passing of Seaga. “He will be remembered as a great and respected Caribbean leader and as one of Jamaica’s outstanding politicians.
“He was the only remaining member of the team who drafted the Constitution when Jamaica gained independence from the UK in 1962 and one of the longest serving Members of the Parliament, not just in Jamaica but in the Caribbean, holding his seat in West Kingston for over 43 years. That is no mean feat in politics,” McLaughlin said in a release on Seaga’s passing.
Seaga, who was the country’s fifth prime minister, lost the general election in 1989 after holding the office since 1980. He remained the opposition leader for many years afterwards, however, and built national institutions such the annual festival celebrations and the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission.
“His love of culture and particularly Jamaican folk music endeared him to many and as a major record producer he played a role in introducing ska to the world. I knew him personally and have fond memories of our conversations on occasions when he visited Grand Cayman,” McLaughlin said, adding, “my sincere condolences go to his family and friends”.
He was born in Massachusetts in 1930 to Jamaican parents of Lebanese (father) and mixed European and African (mother) descent, but at an early age renounced his US citizenship to demonstrate his loyalty to Jamaica.
Seaga, who studied anthropology and earned a degree in social sciences from Harvard University, returned to academics after leaving politics in 2005 when he resigned as leader of the Jamaica Labour Party and as a member of parliament. He took up a role as a senior research fellow at the University of the West Indies.
His death was announced on Twitter by Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
Seaga and his team created armed Gangs and they destroyed Jamaica
Not to talk ill of the dead but I study Jamaican history maybe alden should too if he haven’t.
He is just like seaga himself mostly on the bad side. .
Seaga started providing gangs with guns to intimidate political rivals and Michael Manley soon followed. This started the extreme violence which ruined Jamaica in the early 1970’s, drained the country of wealth and set the course for Jamaica’s violent reputation.
He was a good man, one of the best
I did not personally know the man but as a boy growing up in Jamaica in the 70’s, Jamaica was a great country and the economy was vibrant. I looked up to him and respected him. 5 decades later look at where Jamaica is at, people suffering, crime Is ever increasing, people leaving the country to better themselves and the dollar near worthless. Lesson learn here, bad politics ruins a country. I hope our politicians take a note from history here. R.I.P Sir.
He was a gang leader who epitomized how Jamaican politics are perceived worldwide nowadays. Nobody denies he armed his supporters, reason enough not to adulate him.