Edward Seaga
Encyclopedia
Edward Philip George Seaga ON
PC
(born May 28, 1930) was the fifth Prime Minister of Jamaica
from 1980 to 1989 and 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. His retirement from political life marked the end of Jamaica's founding generation in active politics; he was the last serving politician to have entered public life before independence.
and Scottish
descent. His parents Erna and Phillip George later returned to Jamaica when Edward was only three months old, and baptised their son in Kingston's Anglican Parish Church on December 5, 1930. Erna was the daughter of Elizabeth Campbell (maiden name), daughter of John Zungaroo Campbell (East Indian descent)and Elizabeth Heron (Scottish). Young Seaga attended primary schools in Kingston and St. James, before continuing his secondary education at Wolmer's High School for Boys
, in Kingston. He attended Harvard University
, graduating in 1952.
of the pre-independence legislature, in 1959. He made his mark in one of his first speeches as a legislator on the theme of 'The Haves and Have Nots'. In the 1960s and 1970s he served as minister of development and welfare in the government of Sir Alexander Bustamante
and as minister of finance under Hugh Shearer
, gaining, according to the 1981 yearbook of Merit Students Encyclopedia
, a reputation as a "financial wizard". He became leader of the JLP in 1974, after becoming Member of Parliament for Western Kingston
in 1962.
During the 1960s, he was a music promoter and owned and operated the West Indies Records Limited (WIRL) label. He sold this concern to Byron Lee
in 1968 to reduce distractions from his political career. Lee renamed this label Dynamic Sounds.
Initially seen as a man of the left when he began his political career, Seaga moved to the right when he took over the JLP from Hugh Shearer in 1974 in a sustained attempt to wrest political power from the rival People's National Party
led by Michael Manley
. In this regard Seaga was accused by opponents of helping to foment a culture of political terror that bordered on civil war in the 1970s. By early 1978 the long and bloody campaign leading to the October 1980 election
was renewed in earnest. It was at this time that Seaga made it clear in both Washington
and Kingston that he would align Jamaica with the United States, break diplomatic relations with Cuba
(which the Manley administration had actively promoted), and abolish the levy that Manley had placed on bauxite
, which had angered the mainly US bauxite companies. It was at this time, too, that he spoke often about Jamaica needing "a military solution." The tenor of his speeches and activities in the United States led to his being censured by the Jamaican parliament in 1979.
Seaga and the JLP won the 1980 election by an overwhelming majority - 57 percent of the popular vote and 51 of the 60 seats in the House of Representatives
. He was subsequently one of the first foreign heads of government to visit newly elected US president Ronald Reagan
early the next year. With John Michael Geoffrey Manningham Adams
(also called Tom Adams) of Barbados, Seaga was one of the architects of the Caribbean Basin Initiative
sponsored by Reagan. He delayed his promise to cut diplomatic relations with Cuba
until a year later when he accused the Cuban government of giving asylum
to Jamaican criminals.
Seaga supported the collapse of the Marxist
regime in Grenada
and the subsequent US-led invasion of that island in October 1983. On the back of the Grenada invasion, Seaga called snap elections
at the end of 1983, which Manley's PNP boycotted. His party thus controlled all seats in parliament. In an unusual move, because the Jamaican constitution required an opposition in the appointed Senate
, Seaga appointed eight independent senators to form an official opposition.
Seaga lost much of his US support when he was unable to deliver on his early promises of removing the bauxite levy, and his domestic support also plummeted. Articles attacking Seaga appeared in the US media and foreign investors left the country. Rioting in 1987 and 1988, the continued high popularity of Michael Manley, and complaints of governmental incompetence in the wake of the devastation of the island by Hurricane Gilbert
in 1988, also contributed to his defeat in the 1989 elections
.
Seaga remained leader of the Jamaica Labour Party until January 2005. He made several attempts to regain the Prime Ministership, running unsuccessfully against Manley's successor P.J. Patterson in three more elections. After an overwhelming defeat in the 1993 election
and a meagre improvement in the 1997 election
, he came close to winning the 2002 election
, but stepped down as party chief in 2005 at the age of 74, to take up an academic post as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of the West Indies
in Mona
. His replacement as JLP leader was Bruce Golding
.
From 1965 to 1996, Seaga was married to the former Marie ("Mitsy") Constantine, who held the title of Miss Jamaica 1964. The couple raised three children together, Anabella, Andrew and Christoper and divorced after thirty years of marriage due to irreconcilable differences. In 1997, Seaga married Carla Vendryes, thirty years his junior; she gave birth to their daughter, Gabrielle, in 2002, making him a father for the fourth time, at the age of 72.
Order of the Nation
The Order of the Nation is a Jamaican honour. It is a part of the Jamaican honours system and was instituted in 1973 as the second highest honour in the country–the Order of National Hero being the highest....
PC
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
(born May 28, 1930) was the fifth Prime Minister of Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
from 1980 to 1989 and Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party
Jamaica Labour Party
The Jamaica Labour Party is one of the two major political parties in Jamaica, the other being the People's National Party. Despite its name, the JLP is a centre-right, conservative party.-Background:...
from 1974 to 2005. He served as leader of the opposition from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1989 until January 2005. His retirement from political life marked the end of Jamaica's founding generation in active politics; he was the last serving politician to have entered public life before independence.
Early life
Seaga was born in 1930 in Boston, Massachusetts to Jamaican parents of LebaneseLebanese people
The Lebanese people are a nation and ethnic group of Levantine people originating in what is today the country of Lebanon, including those who had inhabited Mount Lebanon prior to the creation of the modern Lebanese state....
and Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
descent. His parents Erna and Phillip George later returned to Jamaica when Edward was only three months old, and baptised their son in Kingston's Anglican Parish Church on December 5, 1930. Erna was the daughter of Elizabeth Campbell (maiden name), daughter of John Zungaroo Campbell (East Indian descent)and Elizabeth Heron (Scottish). Young Seaga attended primary schools in Kingston and St. James, before continuing his secondary education at Wolmer's High School for Boys
Wolmer's Schools
Wolmer's Schools, located in Kingston, Jamaica consists of Wolmer's Pre-School, Wolmer's Prep School and two high schools Wolmer's Girls' School and Wolmer's Boys' School. The original school is the second oldest English speaking school in the Caribbean...
, in Kingston. He attended Harvard University
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
, graduating in 1952.
Political background
He entered politics as a member of the appointed Legislative Council, the upper houseUpper house
An upper house, often called a senate, is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature, the other chamber being the lower house; a legislature composed of only one house is described as unicameral.- Possible specific characteristics :...
of the pre-independence legislature, in 1959. He made his mark in one of his first speeches as a legislator on the theme of 'The Haves and Have Nots'. In the 1960s and 1970s he served as minister of development and welfare in the government of Sir Alexander Bustamante
Alexander Bustamante
Sir William Alexander Clarke Bustamante GBE, National Hero of Jamaica was a Jamaican politician and labour leader....
and as minister of finance under Hugh Shearer
Hugh Shearer
Hugh Lawson Shearer, ON, OJ, PC was the third Prime Minister of Jamaica, from 1967 to 1972.Born in Martha Brae, Trelawny Parish, Jamaica, near the sugar and banana growing areas, Shearer attended St Simon's College after winning a parish scholarship to the school.In 1941 he took a job on the staff...
, gaining, according to the 1981 yearbook of Merit Students Encyclopedia
Merit Students Encyclopedia
Merit Students Encyclopedia was a printed encyclopedia that was very similar to Collier's Encyclopedia, but was geared towards upper grade school through college level. It was printed by Crowell-Collier Educational Corporation from about 1967-1992...
, a reputation as a "financial wizard". He became leader of the JLP in 1974, after becoming Member of Parliament for Western Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
in 1962.
During the 1960s, he was a music promoter and owned and operated the West Indies Records Limited (WIRL) label. He sold this concern to Byron Lee
Byron Lee
Byron Lee OD, OJ was a musician, record producer, and entrepreneur, best known for his work as leader of Byron Lee and the Dragonaires.-Biography:Lee was born in Christiana in Manchester Parish to an Afro-Jamaican mother and a Chinese father Byron Lee OD, OJ (born Byron Aloysius St. Elmo Lee, 27...
in 1968 to reduce distractions from his political career. Lee renamed this label Dynamic Sounds.
Initially seen as a man of the left when he began his political career, Seaga moved to the right when he took over the JLP from Hugh Shearer in 1974 in a sustained attempt to wrest political power from the rival People's National Party
People's National Party
The People's National Party is a social democratic and social liberal Jamaican political party, founded by Norman Manley in 1938. It is the oldest political party in the Anglophone Caribbean and one of the main two political parties in Jamaica. Out of the two major parties, it is considered more...
led by Michael Manley
Michael Manley
Michael Norman Manley ON OCC was the fourth Prime Minister of Jamaica . Manley was a democratic socialist....
. In this regard Seaga was accused by opponents of helping to foment a culture of political terror that bordered on civil war in the 1970s. By early 1978 the long and bloody campaign leading to the October 1980 election
Jamaican general election, 1980
General elections were held in Jamaica on 30 October 1980. The result was a victory for the Jamaica Labour Party, which won 51 of the 60 seats. Voter turnout was 86.9%.-Results:...
was renewed in earnest. It was at this time that Seaga made it clear in both Washington
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and Kingston that he would align Jamaica with the United States, break diplomatic relations with Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
(which the Manley administration had actively promoted), and abolish the levy that Manley had placed on bauxite
Bauxite
Bauxite is an aluminium ore and is the main source of aluminium. This form of rock consists mostly of the minerals gibbsite Al3, boehmite γ-AlO, and diaspore α-AlO, in a mixture with the two iron oxides goethite and hematite, the clay mineral kaolinite, and small amounts of anatase TiO2...
, which had angered the mainly US bauxite companies. It was at this time, too, that he spoke often about Jamaica needing "a military solution." The tenor of his speeches and activities in the United States led to his being censured by the Jamaican parliament in 1979.
Seaga and the JLP won the 1980 election by an overwhelming majority - 57 percent of the popular vote and 51 of the 60 seats in the House of Representatives
Parliament of Jamaica
The Parliament of Jamaica is the legislative branch of the government of Jamaica. It is a bicameral body, composed of an appointed Senate and an elected House of Representatives....
. He was subsequently one of the first foreign heads of government to visit newly elected US president Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
early the next year. With John Michael Geoffrey Manningham Adams
John Michael Geoffrey Manningham Adams
Jon Michael Geoffrey Manningham "Tom" Adams was a Barbadian politician who served as Prime Minister of Barbados from 1976 until 1985.-Personal life:...
(also called Tom Adams) of Barbados, Seaga was one of the architects of the Caribbean Basin Initiative
Caribbean Basin Initiative
The Caribbean Basin Initiative was a unilateral and temporary United States program initiated by the 1983 "Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act" . The CBI came into effect on January 1, 1984 and aimed to provide several tariff and trade benefits to many Central American and Caribbean countries....
sponsored by Reagan. He delayed his promise to cut diplomatic relations with Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
until a year later when he accused the Cuban government of giving asylum
Right of asylum
Right of asylum is an ancient juridical notion, under which a person persecuted for political opinions or religious beliefs in his or her own country may be protected by another sovereign authority, a foreign country, or church sanctuaries...
to Jamaican criminals.
Seaga supported the collapse of the Marxist
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
regime in Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
and the subsequent US-led invasion of that island in October 1983. On the back of the Grenada invasion, Seaga called snap elections
Jamaican general election, 1983
Early general elections were held in Jamaica on 15 December 1983. The election was boycotted by the main opposition party, the People's National Party, in protest at the refusal of the ruling Jamaican Labour Party to update the electoral roll...
at the end of 1983, which Manley's PNP boycotted. His party thus controlled all seats in parliament. In an unusual move, because the Jamaican constitution required an opposition in the appointed Senate
Parliament of Jamaica
The Parliament of Jamaica is the legislative branch of the government of Jamaica. It is a bicameral body, composed of an appointed Senate and an elected House of Representatives....
, Seaga appointed eight independent senators to form an official opposition.
Seaga lost much of his US support when he was unable to deliver on his early promises of removing the bauxite levy, and his domestic support also plummeted. Articles attacking Seaga appeared in the US media and foreign investors left the country. Rioting in 1987 and 1988, the continued high popularity of Michael Manley, and complaints of governmental incompetence in the wake of the devastation of the island by Hurricane Gilbert
Hurricane Gilbert
Hurricane Gilbert was an extremely powerful Cape Verde-type hurricane that formed during the 1988 Atlantic hurricane season and created widespread destruction in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. It is the second most intense hurricane ever observed in the Atlantic basin behind only...
in 1988, also contributed to his defeat in the 1989 elections
Jamaican general election, 1989
General elections were held in Jamaica on 9 February 1989. The result was a victory for the People's National Party, which won 45 of the 60 seats. Voter turnout was 78.4%.-Results:...
.
Seaga remained leader of the Jamaica Labour Party until January 2005. He made several attempts to regain the Prime Ministership, running unsuccessfully against Manley's successor P.J. Patterson in three more elections. After an overwhelming defeat in the 1993 election
Jamaican general election, 1993
General elections were held in Jamaica on 30 March 1993. The result was a victory for the People's National Party, which won 52 of the 60 seats. Voter turnout was 67.4%.-Results:...
and a meagre improvement in the 1997 election
Jamaican general election, 1997
General elections were held in Jamaica on 18 December 1997. The ruling People's National Party of Prime Minister P. J. Patterson won 50 of the 60 seats defeating the main opposition Jamaica Labour Party.-Background:...
, he came close to winning the 2002 election
Jamaican general election, 2002
General elections were held in Jamaica on 16 October 2002. The result was a victory for the People's National Party, which won 34 of the 60 seats, whilst voter turnout was 59.1%. PNP leader P. J. Patterson retained his position as Prime Minister, becoming the first political leader to win three...
, but stepped down as party chief in 2005 at the age of 74, to take up an academic post as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of the West Indies
University of the West Indies
The University of the West Indies , is an autonomous regional institution supported by and serving 17 English-speaking countries and territories in the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica,...
in Mona
Mona, Jamaica
Mona is a neighbourhood in southeastern Saint Andrew Parish, approximately five miles from Kingston, Jamaica. A former sugar plantation, it is the site of a reservoir serving the city of Kingston and of the main campus of the University of the West Indies...
. His replacement as JLP leader was Bruce Golding
Bruce Golding
Orette Bruce Golding MP served as Prime Minister of Jamaica from 11 September 2007 to 23 October 2011. He is a member of the Jamaica Labour Party.-Biography:...
.
From 1965 to 1996, Seaga was married to the former Marie ("Mitsy") Constantine, who held the title of Miss Jamaica 1964. The couple raised three children together, Anabella, Andrew and Christoper and divorced after thirty years of marriage due to irreconcilable differences. In 1997, Seaga married Carla Vendryes, thirty years his junior; she gave birth to their daughter, Gabrielle, in 2002, making him a father for the fourth time, at the age of 72.