Anthony Abrahams is dead

Noted journalist, Anthony Abrahams, is dead.

Mr. Abrahams passed away Sunday morning after a period of illness.

Anthony Abrahams was a pioneer and established many firsts in his multifaceted career as a journalist, business executive, politician and media practitioner.   

In 1965, he joined the staff of the British Broadcasting Corporation  in London and became its first black TV reporter and in  1970, he became the first Jamaican and the youngest person ever to be appointed Director of Tourism.  

A graduate of Jamaica College and the University of the West Indies, he was awarded the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship in 1962 and became President of the Oxford Union Debate Society in 1963.

Anthony Abrahams also served as a Director of Tourism from 1970-1974 and later as Minister of Tourism and Information from 1980 to 1985.

He was also a member of the Senate from 1977 to 1978 and served as the founding Executive Director of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica from 1970 to 1974.     

Mr.Abrahams was also well known for his hosting of the talk show "The Breakfast Club" which he co-founded  in 1992

PNP remembers Abrahams

And, the People's National Party (PNP) in a release issued this afternoon acknowledged the outstanding contribution of Anthony Abrahams to the development of the country, and in particular, to the tourism and media industries.

The party expressed its condolences to his children, Jason and Tara and other members of his family and his friends. 

The PNP noted that Mr. Abrahams was a pioneer and established many firsts in his multifaceted career as a journalist, business executive, politician and media practitioner.

The party lauded his work as a director of tourism and a minister of tourism and his representation in the Senate in the 1970s.  

JLP saddened by his passing

And, General Secretary of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Senator Aundre Franklin said he and the party are deeply saddened by the passing of Mr. Abrahams who was a former JLP Minister and Member of Parliament.

He said the party salutes him as a journalist, businessman and politician who was a patriotic Jamaican who served his country well at all times in varying capacities

The JLP also praised Mr. Abrahams for what it said was his impeccable intellect and sharp reasoning ability.