Tweet
<H1 align=left><A name=seaga></A>The Rt. Hon. Edward Seaga</H1><P align=left>
The Rt. Hon. Edward Phillip George Seaga, P.C., M.P., LL.D., former Prime Minister (1980-89), Leader of the Opposition since 1989, was born on <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1
ATE Day="28" Month="5" Year="1930">May 28, 1930</ST1ATE> to the late Phillip George Seaga and Erna Seaga (nee Maxwell).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He was educated at Wolmer’s Boys’ School in<ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> <ST1:PLACE>Jamaica</ST1:PLACE> </ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>and graduated from <ST1:PLACE><ST1:PLACENAME>Harvard</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE>University</ST1:PLACETYPE> </ST1:PLACE>in 1952 with a Bachelor’s Degree in the Social Sciences.<P align=left>On <ST1ATE Day="22" Month="8" Year="1965">August 22, 1965</ST1ATE> Mr. Seaga married <ST1:CITY>Elizabeth </ST1:CITY>“Mitsy” Constantine, Miss<ST1:PLACE> Jamaica</ST1:PLACE> 1965.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They have two sons, Christopher and Andrew and a daughter Anabella.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This marriage dissolved in 1995 and the following year, on June 14, he married Carla Vendryes.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They have a daughter.<P align=left>Mr. Seaga plays tennis, hunts and collects Jamaican folk music.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A keen gardener and amateur landscaper, Mr. Seaga has translated his love for plants and flowers into the beautiful Enchanted Garden Resort, which has become a unique attraction in Jamaica.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He is also a member of the Kingston Cricket Club, various hunting clubs and the Jamaica Skeet Club.<P align=left>Mr. Seaga’s political career began in 1959 when Sir Alexander Bustamante, the founder of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), nominated him to serve in the Upper House of the Jamaica Legislature in the Legislative Council (later the Senate).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>His appointment at age 29 made him the youngest member ever appointed to the Legislative Council, which established the framework for national independence in August 1962.<P align=left>In April 1962 Mr. Seaga was elected Member of Parliament for <ST1:PLACE>Western Kingston</ST1:PLACE> and he has held that seat for 40 consecutive years.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He is the only person who has been re-elected as Member of Parliament for that constituency for more than one term and is the longest serving M.P. in the history of Jamaica.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Immediately after winning his seat in 1962, Mr. Seaga was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of Development and Welfare.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Following the 1967 General Elections, he was made Minister of Finance and Planning and in 1974 he became Leader of the JLP and the Parliamentary Opposition until the<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN>General Elections of <ST1ATE Day="30" Month="10" Year="1980">October 30, 1980</ST1ATE> when the Jamaica Labour Party won a landslide victory over the People’s National Party (PNP).<P align=left>The mandate of Mr. Seaga and the JLP was renewed in the uncontested 1983 General Elections.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He remained Prime Minister until February 1989.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Seaga was also Minister of Finance and Planning, and his portfolio included responsibilities for information and culture.
The Rt. Hon. Edward Phillip George Seaga, P.C., M.P., LL.D., former Prime Minister (1980-89), Leader of the Opposition since 1989, was born on <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1ATE Day="28" Month="5" Year="1930">May 28, 1930</ST1ATE> to the late Phillip George Seaga and Erna Seaga (nee Maxwell).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He was educated at Wolmer’s Boys’ School in<ST1:COUNTRY-REGION> <ST1:PLACE>Jamaica</ST1:PLACE> </ST1:COUNTRY-REGION>and graduated from <ST1:PLACE><ST1:PLACENAME>Harvard</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE>University</ST1:PLACETYPE> </ST1:PLACE>in 1952 with a Bachelor’s Degree in the Social Sciences.<P align=left>On <ST1ATE Day="22" Month="8" Year="1965">August 22, 1965</ST1ATE> Mr. Seaga married <ST1:CITY>Elizabeth </ST1:CITY>“Mitsy” Constantine, Miss<ST1:PLACE> Jamaica</ST1:PLACE> 1965.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They have two sons, Christopher and Andrew and a daughter Anabella.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This marriage dissolved in 1995 and the following year, on June 14, he married Carla Vendryes.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They have a daughter.<P align=left>Mr. Seaga plays tennis, hunts and collects Jamaican folk music.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A keen gardener and amateur landscaper, Mr. Seaga has translated his love for plants and flowers into the beautiful Enchanted Garden Resort, which has become a unique attraction in Jamaica.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He is also a member of the Kingston Cricket Club, various hunting clubs and the Jamaica Skeet Club.<P align=left>Mr. Seaga’s political career began in 1959 when Sir Alexander Bustamante, the founder of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), nominated him to serve in the Upper House of the Jamaica Legislature in the Legislative Council (later the Senate).<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>His appointment at age 29 made him the youngest member ever appointed to the Legislative Council, which established the framework for national independence in August 1962.<P align=left>In April 1962 Mr. Seaga was elected Member of Parliament for <ST1:PLACE>Western Kingston</ST1:PLACE> and he has held that seat for 40 consecutive years.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He is the only person who has been re-elected as Member of Parliament for that constituency for more than one term and is the longest serving M.P. in the history of Jamaica.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Immediately after winning his seat in 1962, Mr. Seaga was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of Development and Welfare.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Following the 1967 General Elections, he was made Minister of Finance and Planning and in 1974 he became Leader of the JLP and the Parliamentary Opposition until the<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN>General Elections of <ST1ATE Day="30" Month="10" Year="1980">October 30, 1980</ST1ATE> when the Jamaica Labour Party won a landslide victory over the People’s National Party (PNP).<P align=left>The mandate of Mr. Seaga and the JLP was renewed in the uncontested 1983 General Elections.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He remained Prime Minister until February 1989.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Mr. Seaga was also Minister of Finance and Planning, and his portfolio included responsibilities for information and culture.