Former Jamaica Prime Minister Edward Seaga dies on 89th birthday

Seaga, Jamaica’s fifth prime minister, died in a US hospital with family members at his bedside.

The former Kingston Western Member of Parliament served as prime minister from 1980-1989, is Jamaica’s longest serving elected political representative from 1962 to 2005 and served as leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) for 30 years.

He’s one of the founding fathers of the Jamaica Constitution and contributed immensely to the development of the third-largest English-speaking Caribbean islands, politically, economically and culturally.

In an official statement to the nation Prime Minister Andrew Holness, himself one of many Seaga protégés, said: “It is with great sadness that I inform the nation of the passing of the Most Honourable Edward Phillip George Seaga, the fifth Prime Minister of Jamaica.

“He transitioned today at approximately 1:00 pm Jamaica time.  Mr Seaga was receiving treatment in the United States and had his family with him.

“The family of Mr Seaga has asked me to express gratitude on their behalf for the many prayers and messages of comfort and support offered by the people of Jamaica.

“The necessary arrangements are in place for Mr Seaga’s body to be flown back to Jamaica at the earliest possible time.”

Following his retirement from active politics, he was appointed honorary distinguished fellow at the University of the West Indies and was a Chancellor of the University of Technology (UTech) at the time of his passing.