The Most Honourable Edward Phillip George Seaga, ON, P.C., LL.D.

1980 – 1989

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The Most Honourable Edward Phillip George Seaga was born on May 28, 1930 in Boston, Massachusetts, and was brought home to Jamaica at 3 months old by his parents, Phillip George Seaga and Erna (nee Maxwell). He attended Wolmer’s Boys’ School in Jamaica and thereafter continued his studies at Harvard University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in the Social Sciences in 1952.

Early Political Career and Rise to Leadership

Mr. Edward Seaga is remembered as one of the longest-serving Members of Parliament in Jamaica’s History. His political career began at the young age of 39, when he was nominated by Sir Alexander Bustamante to serve in the Upper House of the Legislative Council (later renamed the Senate). He was also the youngest member ever to be appointed to the Legislative Council, which later established the framework for national independence in August 1962.

Prime Minister Edward Seaga. Credit: E. Seaga

Mr. Seaga was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Western Kingston constituency in April 1962, a seat he kept consecutively for the next 40 years. He was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of Development and Welfare, immediately after winning this seat in 1962. In 1974, Mr. Seaga was also appointed Minister of Finance and Planning and later became the leader of the JLP and Parliamentary Opposition until the General Elections of 1980. Following the JLP’s victory in the 1980 elections, Mr. Seaga became the 5^th Prime Minister of Jamaica, and remained as such until February 1989.  

Social and Economic Contributions

Constituency organisation and national cultural development are said to be significant areas of Prime Minister Edward Seaga’s achievements. He is remembered for his ability to transform depressed inner-city areas within West Kingston. As well as for his introduction of institutions which promote Jamaican culture nationally and internationally. Prime Minister Seaga made several noteworthy contributions that were crucial to the social and economic growth and welfare of Jamaica.

Institutional, Parliamentary, Political and Constitutional Reforms

Mr. Seaga played a significant role in the inception of some of the most important political, parliamentary and constitutional reforms that have impacted the governance of Jamaica. These include:

Institutional, Parliamentary, Political and Constitutional Reforms

• The 1961 Parliamentary Commission drafted the Constitution for Jamaica's independence.

• The electoral reform: Electoral Advisory Committee - 1979 

• The Contractor General - proposed in 1979

•  The Media Commission - 1986

•  The 1992 constitutional reform renamed the Advocate General role to Public Defender.

• The 1993 constitutional reform included the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms.

Mr. Seaga also led several other Parliamentary reforms that were aimed at strengthening the independence of Parliament and allowing non-parliamentarians to address Parliament on relevant issues.

Prime Minister Edward Seaga. Credit: jamaicalabourparty.com

Financial Development

He established many of the financial institutions required in newly independent Jamaica to build a financial market for successful economic investment and growth, including the following:

Financial Institutions Established

• 1967 Jamaica Citizens Bank (JCB) - First commercial bank that had the majority of its owners being Jamaican, which wasn’t the norm during that era

•  1968 Jamaica Stock Exchange

•  1971 Jamaica Unit Trust

•  1972 Jamaica Mortgage Bank

•  1981 National Development Bank (NDB)

•  1981 Agricultural Credit Bank (ACB)

•  1982 Agro 21

•  1982 Divestment Programme - Commencing with the lease of government-owned hotels.

•  1984 Self-Start Fund (established to offer support loans to micro-businesses)

•  1985 Comprehensive Tax Reforms, Including A Flat Income Tax Rate For All

•  1985 Solidarity Programme for Micro-Businesses

•  1986 Export-Import Bank (Ex-Im Bank)

•  1986 De-regulation of the economy, commencing with the removal of import licensing and later price controls.

•  1986 Privatisation of Financial Institutions, such as the NCB

•  1987 JAMPRO (Formerly JNIP)

•  1988 Digi Port – First Satellite Telecommunications Data Processing Operation in Montego Bay

•  1988 National Tree Planting Programme (with the goal to plant one million trees across Jamaica).

•  Students’ Loan Bureau

Agriculture

Mr. Seaga promoted local and overseas investment in Jamaica when he created the highly successful Jamaica National Investment Promotion Ltd, JNIP (now JAMPRO) in 1981. He advanced commercial agriculture by introducing modern technologies and stimulating agricultural enterprise in new crops. He also made use of the unused and underused publicly owned lands by launching a programme to plant 1 million trees.

Tax System Reform

The Income and Corporate Tax System in Jamaica was comprehensively reformed in the 1980s during Mr. Seaga’s Administration. He introduced computerised technology that transformed the administration and organisation of revenue collection by assigning a Taxpayer Registration Number (TRN) to each taxpayer.

Financial Ambassador

In his role as the Minister of Finance, Mr. Seaga represented Jamaica as governor of the International Monetary Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank.

Edward Phillip George Seaga. Credit: The Gleaner

Urban, Rural and Infrastructural Development

Mr. Seaga is often remembered for the transformation of 'Black-O-Wall', which was said to be one of the worst slums in West Kingston, Jamaica. With his determination, the community became a modern, low-income residential area later renamed Tivoli Gardens. He also established the Urban Development Corporation (UDC) in 1968, through which the waterfronts of Kingston, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay were developed into major resort, residential, port and office complexes.

At Mr. Seaga’s initiative, the UDC also acquired two-thirds of Negril’s choice land for development, which eventually formed the basis for the development of Hellshire, Bloody Bay (Negril), Seville and Auchindown (Westmoreland). Additionally, he established the Metropolitan Parks and Markets as a secondary arm of the UDC to manage the cleaning, beautification and maintenance of the parks and markets in Kingston and other specified urban areas in Jamaica.

Human Resource Development

Mr. Seaga was a steadfast supporter of professional development and continuing education, especially for young people. As a result, he established the Human Employment and Resource Training Programme (HEART) in 1938 to provide job-related training for school-leavers and drop-outs throughout Jamaica. His administration also implemented several other significant social welfare programs in Jamaica, including the Food Stamp Programme, designed to assist the elderly, poor and lactating mothers. Additionally, his administration established the National School Feeding Programme and focused on community development through initiatives like the 100 Village Community Development Programme.

Cultural Development

While he was Minister of Development and Welfare, Mr. Seaga made an unforgettable impact on the Ska community during the 1960s, when he promoted overseas tours for Jamaican Ska artistes. This move is said to have also laid the foundation for the international emergence of Reggae. Mr. Seaga’s contribution to Jamaica’s creative and cultural industry did not end there. He pioneered cultural institutions such as the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC), the National Gallery, and Devon House. He also went on to create the Jamaica Festival, which is held yearly, leading up to the nation's independence celebrations.

Edward Phillip George Seaga. Credit: A. Holness via facebook.com

The festival allows institutions to compete each year in categories such as literature, performing, classical arts, graphic arts, as well as culinary skills, thus showcasing Jamaican talent and cultural expressions. Mr. Seaga is also credited with establishing several other institutions and initiatives that continue to evoke cultural and historical awareness and national identity among Jamaicans. These include:

Cultural Institutions and Initiatives

• The return and interment of Marcus Garvey's body in Jamaica in 1964

• The Order of National Heroes that was granted to Marcus Garvey in 1964

•  The National Heroes Park -1964

•  The development of the Arawak and Port Royal museums, 1965 - 1969

•  Jamaica Journal publication (Institute of Jamaica) - 1967

•  Research and recording of folk culture - 1967

•  Devon House - 1967

•  National Heritage Week - 1968

•  The design of the Cultural Training Centre (Arts, Drama, Music, Painting & Sculpture) - 1971

•  The Jamaica Racing Commission and Jockey School - 1972

•  The Establishment of the Creative Production and Training Centre (CPTC) - 1986

• Planned development of heritage sites (Port Royal, Spanish Town, Seville) - 1988

•  The Media Divestment Programme, to establish several small private radio stations and church television, 1988

International Initiatives

On the international stage in the 1970s, Mr. Seaga conceptualised and promoted his idea of a 'cultural bank', which encouraged UNESCO to establish the International Fund for the Promotion of Culture (IFPC). Jamaica is also recognised for initiating several far-reaching international programmes within the Caribbean region and worldwide, especially due to Mr. Seaga's proposals to create new international agreements. Specifically, the establishment of the Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI) was conceived as a 'Marshall Plan' for the Caribbean. This was later adopted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as the Short-Term Advisory Service (STAS) to provide low-cost short-term expertise from the international private sector for developing countries.

In 1986, there was also the introduction of the Caribbean Democrat Union (CDU) and the Caribbean/Canada Free Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN), which was a trade agreement between Caribbean Commonwealth countries and Canada to grant them duty-free access to eligible goods from the beneficiary countries of the English-speaking Caribbean (Commonwealth) until December 2013.

Other Noteworthy Achievements and Recognitions

Prime Minister Seaga has received several recognitions and honours for his social and economic contributions, locally and internationally:

 Recognition and Honours

• In 1981, Queen Elizabeth II appointed Mr. Seaga as a member of her Majesty’s Privy Council. 

• In 1981, he also received the Grand Collar de Libertador and the Gold Mercury International Award from the Republic of Venezuela.

• The Grand Gwangwa Medal, Order of Diplomatic Service Merit, was awarded in 1981 by the Republic of Korea.

• Grand Cross of the Order of Merit from the Federal Republic of Germany in 1982.

• The Order of the Aztec Eagle from Mexico in 1987.

• The Gleaner Honour Awards: Man of the Year, 1980 and 1981

• Avenue of the Americas Association, N.Y. – Gold Key Award (1981)

• Pan American Development Foundation Inter-American Man of the Year Development Award (1983)

• Dr. Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award

• United Nations Environment Programme – the Environmental Leadership Awards (1987)

Honorary Degrees

• University of Miami, LL.D. (1981)

• Tampa University, LL.D. (1982)

• University of South Carolina, LL.D. (1983)

• Boston University, LL.D. (1983)

• Hartford University, LL.D. (1987)

In 2005, the Most Honourable Edward Philip George Seaga retired from active politics after 46 years of service to Jamaica. He went on to become a Distinguished Fellow at the University of the West Indies, Mona and continued to make scholarly contributions to tertiary institutions. Prime Minister Seaga, while receiving treatment in the United States for his medical condition, sadly passed away on May 28, 2019, at the age of 89.