Former Prime Minister Edward Seaga
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Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Opposition Leader Dr. Peter Phillips, MP Desmond McKenzie, former Prime Minister PJ Patterson and Don Anderson
Tributes are being paid from across the political divide following the passing of former Prime Minister Edward Philip George Seaga.
Mr. Seaga, who turned 89 today, died at 1 o'clock this afternoon in a Miami hospital.
He was the fifth Prime Minister of Jamaica, serving from 1980 to 1989, and was the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party from 1974 to 2005.
He served as Leader of the Opposition from 1974 to 1980, and again from 1989 until January 2005.
In an address to the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said arrangements are in place for Mr Seaga's body to be flown back to Jamaica at the earliest possible time.
He said Mr. Seaga's body is expected to be accompanied by his wife and other family members and will be received by the government.
His body will lie in State, after which he will receive a State funeral.
The government will advise of a period of mourning.
There will also be a special sitting of the House in which members "can have tributes prepared and recorded in honour of Mr. Seaga," the Prime Minister said.
Difficult period
Addressing the House on Tuesday, Mr. Holness said it was difficult dealing with the death of Mr. Seaga.
"It is a personally trying time for me, and I know it is also a very trying time for his family. And though they were prepared, and though I was prepared, at the point of the event, you still can't help but feel the emotional void that has been created by his passing," he declared.
He said Mr. Seaga had given him a final message for Jamaicans when he visited him in hospital recently.
"All Jamaica should know that when I was about to leave the hospital room, I held his hands and he squeezed my hands and he said, 'Thank you Andrew, and tell the Jamaican people thanks for everything'," Mr. Holness shared.
Opposition Leader Dr. Peter Phillips
Opposition Leader Dr. Peter Phillips also paid tribute to Mr. Seaga, noting that he was a "tremendous presence and a powerful presence in the social, economic and political life of the country."
"I believe he was, up until today, the last surviving member of the Parliament that took us into Independence in 1962. He was also the only surviving member of the joint select committee which drafted the Jamaica Independence Constitution. In fact, that committee was chaired by the Right Excellenct Norman Washingston Manley. Mr. Seaga, I believe was its youngest member at that time. He made a tremendous contibution to nation building," he said.
West Kingston MP Desmond McKenzie
Member of Parliament for Kingston Western Desmond McKenzie, who knew Mr. Seaga since childhood, also spoke in the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon.
He spoke about West Kingston which was represented by Mr Seaga for four decades.
"West Kingston, Mr. Speaker, has become an institution that can never be surpassed. I want to reach out in a very special way this afternoon to the people of West Kingston. Later on in Tivoli, we will express ourselves in a different format, but I want to use this Parliament to say to the people of West Kingston that you continue to be a great constituency, loyal constituency; you continue to be a source of strength and inspiration and I value our relationship in such a way that I will always continue to make you proud," he said.
Mr. McKenzie later broke down in tears following his presentation in the House.
PJ Patterson
One of Mr. Seaga's fiercest political rivals, former Prime Minister PJ Patterson, was also among those who paid tribute to the former Prime Minister.
Mr. Patterson noted that there were many issues on which they disagreed but they were able to find common ground on matters such as sports and culture.
"There were some things on which, thankfully, there was no flexibility once he took a position. Perhaps, he may have said the same thing about me, who knows? But at the very, very end of our respective periods in office and perhaps even more so in retirement, I would say Eddie and PJ developed a relationship which I personally still treasure," said Mr. Patterson.
Governor General
Governor General Sir Patrick Allen said Mr. Seaga leaves a legacy of visionary leadership, sustainable institutional development, and a wealth of ideas and information.
He noted that Mr. Seaga was one of the principal architects of Jamaica's post-Independence governmental structure.
He pointed out his long list of achievements in national and political leadership, enlightened policy development, and efficient implementation, asserting that these marked him as a strategic thinker and a man of action.
Sir Patrick said he evoked a brand of loyalty which was a combination of deep respect and unquestioned love.
Bruce Golding
With the passing of the Most Honourable Edward Seaga, Jamaica has lost one of its most accomplished nation builders. His contribution to national development spanned more than fifty years from the early 1950s when he conducted research into the social structure and folk culture of both rural communities and Kingston’s city slums.
His trailblazing achievements as Minister of Development and Welfare, Minister of Finance and Planning and Prime Minister have left an indelible mark on Jamaica’s institutional development and constitute a huge legacy from which the Jamaican people continue to benefit.
Mr. Seaga was the only surviving member of the committee chaired by national hero, Norman Manley, that drafted Jamaica’s constitution in 1962 and he played a significant role in the review of that constitution that led to the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms in 2011.
He was a strong leader, firm in his convictions and fearless in his approach. He was never daunted by criticism or controversy once he was convinced that the path he was pursuing was the right one. In so many respects, history has vindicated him.
Edward Seaga has earned his prominence in the annals of Jamaica’s journey as a nation and his contributions will be one of the pillars on which the greatness that we achieve will rest.
My sincere condolences go out to his wife, Carla, his children, Christopher, Anabella, Andrew and Gabrielle, as well as the other members of his family. I share with the Jamaica Labour Party that he led for 31 years and the people of West Kingston that he represented for 43 years their deep sadness at the loss of a giant who meant so much to them.
Don Anderson
Don Anderson, who up to recently served as chairman of the Professional Football Association of Jamaica (PFAJ), commented on Mr. Seaga's involvement in football.
"We had to admire the kind of conviction that he came to every meeting with and the passion with which he expressed himself. He really was very deeply involved in football, even to his passing as he was still the chairman of the Tivoli Gardens Football Club," he noted.
Mr. Seaga is a former chairman of the PFAJ and Premier League Clubs Association.
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