The Honourable Bruce Golding MP
8th Prime Minister of Jamaica
In office 11 September 2007 – 23 October 2011
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	Kenneth Hall Patrick Allen
Deputy	Kenneth Baugh
Preceded by	Portia Simpson-Miller
Succeeded by	Andrew Holness
Leader of the Labour Party
In office 24 January 2005 – 20 November 2011
Preceded by	Edward Seaga
Succeeded by	Andrew Holness
Leader of the Opposition
In office 24 January 2005 – 11 September 2007
Prime Minister	Percival Patterson Portia Simpson-Miller
Preceded by	Edward Seaga
Succeeded by	Portia Simpson-Miller
Member of Parliament for Kingston West
Incumbent
Assumed office 24 January 2005
Preceded by	Edward Seaga
Personal details
Born	(1947-12-05) 5 December 1947 (age 64) Chapelton, Jamaica
Political party	Labour Party
Spouse(s)	Lorna Golding
Alma mater	University of the West Indies (B.A)

Orette Bruce Golding MP (born 5 December 1947) served as Prime Minister of Jamaica from 11 September 2007 to 23 October 2011. He is a member of the Jamaica Labour Party.

Biography[link]

He is the son of Tacius Golding and Enid Golding (née Bent, died 13 September 2011 ^[1]), both teachers. He was the third of four children: The second—the only girl—died shortly after birth. In 1949, when he was only two years old, his family moved to St. Faiths district near Browns Hall, St. Catherine where he spent the next five years. In 1955, his mother accepted a teaching post at Alpha Academy in Kingston. This necessitated that the family relocate to Kingston.

As a child, Golding grew up in a political environment. He was only two years old in 1949 when his father was first elected as a Member of the House of Representatives for West St. Catherine, a seat that he retained for 22 years until his retirement in 1972. Tacius Golding was the first Speaker of the House in Independent Jamaica and also served as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Housing.

Golding, the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), became Prime Minister following his party's slim victory in the 3 September 2007 general election and Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller's concession of defeat two days later. He was sworn in by the Governor-General of Jamaica on 11 September 2007. Golding is the nation's eighth prime minister since independence.^[2]

Golding was the founder of the National Democratic Movement (NDM). He was formerly the chairman of the JLP before he and others felt the need to split and form the new NDM in 1995. In 2002, he rejoined the JLP and in November 2003 was again elected chairman of the Party.

He was elected leader of the JLP, and also the leader of the opposition, on 20 February 2005, succeeding Edward Seaga. Golding is a second-generation member of the JLP. His father, Tacius Golding, served as a member of parliament, and Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1962.

He is married to Lorna Golding and has three children: Sherene, Steven, and Ann-Merita.

Bruce Golding, as Prime Minister, was the MP of Kingston West, and also hosted Jamaica House Live, a monthly talk show, during his tenure as prime minister.

In May 2008, in an interview with Stephen Sackur of the BBC, he declared that any cabinet formed by him would exclude any MP known to be gay.^[3] In previous statements, Golding has stated that he and his party strongly opposed public displays of homosexuality in Jamaica and that he felt that they should continue to be illegal in keeping with Jamaican societal norms.^[4]

Education[link]

Bruce Golding spent five years at St. George’s College, and later transferred to Jamaica College to pursue A Level studies. Golding entered the University of the West Indies (UWI) in 1966 and graduated in 1969 with a BSc degree in Economics (2nd class Honours) majoring in public administration.^[5]

Issues in power[link]

This section's representation of one or more viewpoints about a controversial issue may be unbalanced or inaccurate. Please improve the article or discuss the issue on the talk page.(December 2010)

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and Christopher "Dudus" Coke extradition request[link]

In a sitting of Parliament on 16 March 2010, Opposition member Dr. Peter Phillips made reference to an alleged contractual arrangement between the Government and a United States law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips to lobby the US Government on a treaty dispute^[6] between the two countries that had arisen as a result of the Jamaican Government refusing to sign an extradition request for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke, who is wanted in the US on charges relating to narcotics, arms and ammunition trafficking.^[7] The Golding Administration refused to sign the extradition request on the basis that the evidence was obtained contrary to Jamaican laws. Golding denied claims that Manatt, Phelps & Phillips was contracted to represent the Jamaican Government.^[8]

Golding with the President of Brazil, Lula da Silva.

A US Justice Department filing under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) showed that Manatt, Phelps & Phillips had secured a contract worth US $400,000 to represent the Jamaican government in the treaty dispute.^[9][10] Karl Samuda, Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, made a statement in which he noted that unnamed members of the Jamaica Labour Party had approached Harold Brady, to see whether—through his wide network of international contacts—he could assist in facilitating the opening of discussions between the US authorities and the Government of Jamaica, and thereby seek to resolve what had become a treaty dispute between the US and Jamaica.^[11] In a statement made by Golding on 11 May 2010 in Parliament, he revealed that he had sanctioned the initiative to lobby the US Government but that the initiative was to be undertaken by the Jamaica Labour Party and not on behalf of the government.^[12][13]

Following his revelation, the Opposition People's National Party; its youth arm, the PNPYO; and the National Democratic Movement called for his resignation as Prime Minister.^[14] Manatt, Phelps & Phillips maintains that they were contracted on behalf of the Jamaican Government through Harold C.W. Brady of Brady and Co and have since severed ties with the Jamaican Government.^[15]

On 17 May 2010, in a televised address to the nation,^[16] Golding apologised to the Jamaican people for his involvement in the Manatt affair. He stated that he was prepared to step aside as Prime Minister and leader of the Party in a meeting of the party executive. The executive rejected his offer and reassured their support for his role as party leader and Prime Minister. In his statement, he outlined new measures including assigning some of his portfolio responsibilities to other government Ministers, and a renewed thrust to enact legislation for: the impeachment of parliamentary members, term limits for the office of Prime Minister and political party finance reform.^[17] He also confirmed that Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dorothy Lightbourne will sign the authorisation for the US authorities to commence the extradition case against Christopher Coke.^[18]

State of Emergency[link]

Following the televised address, supporters of Christopher Coke began erecting barricades to the entrances of the Tivoli Gardens Community. This continued for several days as the security forces prepared to enter Tivoli Gardens to serve Coke with the warrant for his arrest. On 23 May 2010 police stations^[19] in and around downtown Kingston came under gunfire, and two were set ablaze and later burnt to the ground allegedly by supporters of Coke. Following the attack on the police forces, Golding initiated a state of public emergency on 23 May 2010,^[20] limited to the parishes of Kingston and St Andrew,^[21][22] giving the security forces extraordinary powers to maintain law and order. The Jamaica Constabulary Force and the Jamaica Defence Force mounted a joint operation to enter the community, with the objectives being to arrest Coke, clear the blockades, restore law and order and recover illegal guns believed to be in the community. The security forces met with armed resistance from thugs later discovered to be hired guns of Coke. The siege lasted for several days and left 73 civilians^[23] and 3 members of the security forces (2 JCF and 1 JDF) dead, 36 weapons and 9,241 rounds of ammunition recovered.^[24]

Vote of no confidence[link]

Following the revelation that he had sanctioned the initiative for the Jamaica Labour Party to hire US lobbying firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and his handling of the extradition request for Christopher "Dudus" Coke, members and groups of civil society, church groups and political parties called for his resignation. With the backing of his party, the Prime Minister maintained that he would continue his term as Prime Minister. This prompted the opposition People's National Party to table a motion of no confidence.^[25][26][27] The opposition leader, Portia Simpson-Miller, led the debate in Parliament outlining the arguments for Golding's removal from office and moving that he be censured. The debate lasted for four hours, and at the end the motion was defeated 30–28, with members of the House of Representatives voting strictly on party lines.

Resignation[link]

On 25 September 2011, Golding advised the JLP's Central Executive—the second highest decision-making body for the party outside the All-Island General Conference—of his intention not to seek re-election as Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party at the party's conference in November 2011 and, upon the election of a new party leader, his intention to step down as Prime Minister of Jamaica.

The Central Executive voted unanimously at its quarterly meeting at the party's Belmont Road headquarters on 25 September 2011, to reject Golding's resignation; however, words from the Information Minister Daryl Vaz, a close confidante of Golding, were that Golding's decision would remain despite the rejection by the Central Executive.

Golding, in a brief written statement, said:

"The challenges of the last four years have taken their toll and it was appropriate now to make way for new leadership to continue the programmes of economic recovery and transformation, while mobilising the party for victory in the next general election."

LGBT[link]

During an interview with BBC Hardtalk in 2008, Golding said that he would not allow gay people to be part of his cabinet. He has justified the illegality of homosexual acts by Christian values and the "integrity of the family"..^[28][29]

See also[link]

	Jamaica portal
	Biography portal

• Cabinet of Jamaica

References[link]

• The Jamaica Gleaner. " Golden hour – Bruce takes office in Jamaica today ", The Jamaica Gleaner, 11 September 2007.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bruce Golding

• Jamaica Information Service, Information Service of the Government of Jamaica
• The Office of the Prime Minister
• Jamaica Labour Party – Bruce Golding
• Bruce Golding on the BBC's HARDtalk Interview Program

v t e Prime Ministers of Jamaica Alexander Bustamante† · Norman Manley† · Alexander Bustamante · Donald Sangster · Hugh Shearer · Michael Manley · Edward Seaga · Michael Manley · P. J. Patterson · Portia Simpson-Miller · Bruce Golding · Andrew Holness · Portia Simpson-Miller † Served as Chief Minister of Jamaica

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Tagged since April 2012. Its neutrality is disputed. Tagged since March 2012. It is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. Tagged since April 2012. It may need to be wikified to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Tagged since April 2012.

The Most Honourable Edward Seaga
Former Prime Minister Edward Seaga
5th Prime Minister of Jamaica
In office 1 November 1980 – 10 February 1989
Preceded by	Michael Manley
Succeeded by	Michael Manley
Leader of the Opposition
In office 1974 - 1 November 1980 10 February 1989 – January, 2005
Preceded by	Hugh Shearer (1972-1974)
Succeeded by	Michael Manley (1980-1989) Bruce Golding (2005)
4th Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party
In office November 1974 – January 2006
Preceded by	Hugh Shearer
Succeeded by	Bruce Golding
Minister of Finance
In office 1967 - 1972 1980 – 1989 (longest tenure)
Personal details
Born	Edward Philip George Seaga (1930-05-28) 28 May 1930 (age 82) Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Nationality	Jamaica
Political party	Jamaica Labour Party
Spouse(s)	Mitsy Seaga (née Marie Constantine, 1965–1995) Carla Vendryes (1996 – Present)

Edward Philip George Seaga ( /siˈɑːɡə/) ON PC (born 28 May 1930) was the fifth Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1980 to 1989 and Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party from 1974 to 2005.^[1] 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.

Seaga also played a major role in the development of the Jamaican music industry, as a record producer and record company owner.

Early life[link]

The Most Honourable Edward Philip George Seaga, O.N. P.C., LL.D. (Hon.), former Prime Minister, 1980–89, Chancellor, University of Technology, Distinguished Fellow of the University of the West Indies, was born on May 28, 1930, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Jamaican parents of Lebanese and Scottish descent,^[1] the late Philip George Seaga and Erna (née Maxwell). His parents 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).

He was educated at Wolmer’s Boys’ School in Jamaica and graduated from Harvard University in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts (Harvard AB) degree in the Social Sciences.^[1] He subsequently took a research post at the University of the West Indies.^[1]

Music industry career[link]

Seaga's research led to an interest in Jamaican music and in 1955 he supervised the recording of an album of ethnic Jamaican music.^[2] He continued to produce recordings by other artists and in the late 1950s set up West India Records Limited (WIRL), releasing early recordings by artists such as Higgs and Wilson and Byron Lee & the Dragonaires.^[2] WIRL became the most successul record company in the West Indies.^[2] After becoming a Member of Parliament, he sold the company to Byron Lee and it was renamed Dynamic Sounds.^[2]

Political career[link]

Seaga's political career began in 1959 when Sir Alexander Bustamante, founder of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), nominated him to serve in the Upper House of the Jamaican Parliament, the Legislative Council (later the Senate).^[2] His appointment at age 29 made him the youngest member ever appointed to the Legislative Council.^[2]

In April, 1962, Mr. Seaga was elected Member of Parliament for West Kingston the waterfront area in the capital city which is historically the oldest settlement in Kingston for poor, working class residents a great many of whom are unemployed.^[2] Employment is largely petty trading with some semi-skilled craftsmen. He held that seat for 43 consecutive years making him the longest serving Member of Parliament in the history of Jamaica and the Caribbean region.^[1] He is the only person elected as Member of Parliament for West Kingston for more than one term having won 10 consecutive terms.

Immediately after winning his seat in 1962, Mr. Seaga was appointed to the Cabinet as Minister of Development and Welfare with responsibility for all areas of planning, social development and culture, using his position to continue to promote Jamaican music.^[2] Following the 1967 General Elections he was appointed Minister of Finance and Planning.^[2] In 1974 he became Leader of the JLP, in which he served for 30 years, he was also Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition in various periods.^[2]

Edward P.G. Seaga became Prime Minister of Jamaica following the General Election of October 30, 1980, when the Jamaica Labour Party won a landslide victory over the incumbent People’s National Party (PNP) with the largest mandate ever. The mandate of Mr. Seaga and the Jamaica Labour Party was renewed in the uncontested 1983 General Elections.^[2] He remained Prime Minister until February, 1989.

As one of the founding fathers in the framing of the Jamaican Constitution in 1961, Mr. Seaga has spear-headed far-reaching constitutional reforms since then, initiating a re-write of the human rights section of the Constitution to provide for a Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms; creation of the post of Public Defender and curtailment of some of the wide powers of the Prime Minister to provide a better balance of power between the executive and the parliament in the Jamaican system of governance.

His Contributions to Independent Jamaica[link]

Economic And Financial Development; Investment Promotion[link]

Seaga established most of the range of financial institutions required in newly independent Jamaica to build a financial market for successful economic investment and growth.

1967 First Jamaican majority-owned commercial bank - Jamaica Citizens Bank (JCB)

1968 Jamaica Stock Exchange

1969 Decimalization of the Jamaican Currency

1969 Jamaicanisation of financial institutions - banks and insurance companies

1969 Introduction of merchant banking

1971 Jamaica Unit Trust

1972 Jamaica Mortgage Bank

1981 National Development Bank (NDB)

1981 Agricultural Credit Bank (ACB)

1982 Agro 21

1982 Launching of Divestment Programme commencing with lease of government-owned hotels.

1984 Self-Start Fund

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 economy commencing with removal of import licencing; later price controls

1986 First privatization of Financial Institutions - NCB

1987 JAMPRO (formerly JNIP)

1988 Digiport - first satellite telecommunications data processing operation - Montego Bay

1988 One Million Trees Programme

Planning And Development[link]

Rural and urban planning and the environment have been prime areas of development in Seaga's career, focusing on waterfront development in the main coastal towns and cities, rural and urban township development programmes and the development of parks and markets.

1963 5-Year Development Plan

1966 Redevelopment of Kingston Waterfront

1967 Development of Tivoli Gardens Community

1967 Reclamation and development of Ocho Rios Waterfront (Turtle Beach)

1967 Comprehensively planned urban communities - transformation of 'Back-o-Wall' slum to Tivoli Garden, a modern, fully, planned urban development; Hellshire Hills development; Portmore Town centre, Torrington Park)

1968 Urban Development Corporation

1969 Comprehensive development plan for infrastructure of many rural towns (later CRDTDP)

1971 20-Year Physical Development Plan

1983 National Conference Centre - headquarters of the International Seabed Authority

1983 National Committee for Drug Abuse

1985 MPM - Beautification and Public Cleansing

1988 Reclamation of Montego Bay Waterfront

1988 Negril development (Bloody Bay)

1988 Social Well-being Plan

Various Times Land Bank - purchase of 50,000 acres of prime properties for future development (Negril, Orange Bay, Auchindown, Mt. Edgecombe, Seville, Laughing Water, Belmont (Dunns River), Winifred Rest Home property, Caymanas, Hellshire Hills.

Various Times Development of several hotels - Kingston Waterfront, Ocho Rios, Negril.

Social Programmes[link]

Seaga was the architect of a wide range of social programmes which expanded training in human resources, aided small enterprises and protected the poor and vulnerable.

1963 Construction of the National Arena

1963 Things Jamaican - craft development

1963 Launching of the Drug Abuse Committee (later Council)

1964 100 Village Community Development Programme

1965 Community sports development on a structured islandwide basis

1965 The Golden Age Movement

1965 The National Volunteers

1970 Student Revolving Loan Fund for Higher Education

1971 National School Feeding Programme

1972 Establishment of Jamaica Racing Commission and Jockey School

1974 Institute of Mass Communication; later renamed Caribbean Institute of Media & Communication (CARIMAC)

1982 H.E.A.R.T. (Human Employment & Resource Training)

1984 Food Stamp Programme for elderly poor and lactating mothers

1984 ARP - Administrative Reform Programme for fundamental Civil Service reforms

1985 Golden Age Home fr the elderly poor

1986 L.E.A.P. (Learning for Earning Activity Programme) for street children

1988 P.A.C.E. (Programme for Advancement of Early Childhood Education)

1988 Residential Halls for UWI, UTECH and Cultural Training Centre

Cultural Programmes[link]

Seaga established in independent Jamaica most of the institutions to build cultural awareness and national identity, as well as develop our Arts, Crafts and National Heritage.

1963 Jamaica Festival

1964 Promotion to launch Jamaican music (ska) abroad

1964 Return of Marcus Garvey's body to Jamaica

1964 Order of National Heroes - Garvey First Hero

1964 National Heroes Park

1965 & 1969 Several Museums: Arawak, Port Royal

1967 Jamaica Journal publication (Institute of Jamaica)

1967 Research and recording of Folk Culture

1967 Devon House

1968 National Heritage Week

1971 Design of the Cultural Training Centre (Arts, Drama, Music, Painting & Sculpture)

1972 Jamaica Racing Commission and Jockey School

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

1988 Planned development of Heritage sites (Port Royal, Spanish Town, Seville)

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

Institutional, Parliamentary, Political and Constitutional Reforms[link]

Seaga is recognized as the initiator of some of the most important political, parliamentary and constitutional reforms which affect governance of the country.

1961 Member of the Parliamentary Commission which drafted the Constitution for independent Jamaica

1979 Electoral reforms: structure of EAC

1986 Establishment of Contractor General proposed in 1979

1986 Media Commission

1992 Constitutional Reform: Advocate General (renamed Public Defender)

1993 Constitutional Reform: Charter of Fundamental Rights and Freedoms

1994 Several Parliamentary reforms:

• to strengthen the independence of Parliament
• to allow non-Parliamentarians to address Parliament on issues

1994 Money Bills tabled in Parliament to regulate money supply by law

International Programmes[link]

Jamaica is recognized for initiating several far-reaching international programmes within the Caribbean region and world-wide, due to Seaga's proposals to create new international agreements.

1974 UNESCO International Fund for the Promotion of Culture (Culture Bank)

1982 Caribbean Basin Initiative (CBI)

1986 UNDP - United Nations International Short Term Advisory Resources - UNISTAR (Manpower Bank)

1986 Caribbean Democrat Union (CDU)

1986 CARIBCAN (Canada)

Honours and Awards[link]

In 1981, Mr. Seaga was appointed by Queen Elizabeth II as a member of Her Majesty’s Privy Council. In 2002, the Order of the Nation, the second highest honour awarded by the Government of Jamaica, was bestowed on him.

In 2005, the honorary title of Distinguished Fellow for Life was conferred on Mr. Seaga by the University of the West Indies. He was also recently installed as a Fellow of the Institute of Jamaica, the venerable institution of arts and sciences. He has claimed his rapid rise in the academic world by appointment to Chancellor of the University of Technology. His outstanding political achievements led to Fortune Magazine acclaiming him a Man of the Year in 1980, the first and only such accolade to anyone in this region.

Mr. Seaga has also been honoured by several countries:

• Republic of Venezuela – Grand Collar de Libertador (1981)
• Republic of Venezuela – Gold Mercury International Award (1981)
• Republic of Korea – Grand Gwangwa Medal, Order of Diplomatic Service
• (1981)
• Federal Republic of Germany – Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (1982)
• Mexico – Order of the Aztec Eagle (1987)

He is the recipient of several prestigious international awards:

• Gleaner Honour Awards: Man of the Year, 1980, 1981
• Avenue of the Americas Association, N.Y. – Gold Key Award(1981)
• American Friendship Medal bestowed by the Freedom Foundation, 1982.
• Pan American Development Foundation Inter-American Man of the Year Development Award(1983)
• Dr. Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award (1984)
• United Nations Environment Programme – the Environmental Leadership Award(1987)

Mr. Seaga is credited with having built more institutions and initiated more far reaching policies in the growth and development of Jamaica than any other political leader.

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)
• University of Hartford, LL.D. (1987)

Publications

• “Parent Teacher Relationships”, published by the Institute of Social and Economic Research, University of the West Indies, 1954.
• “Faith Healing in Jamaica” – International Parapsychology, 1955.
• “Revival Spirit Cults” (Jamaica Journal), published by the Institute of Jamaica.
• “Folk Music of Jamaica” (album of music recorded by Ethnic Folkways Library), 1978.
• “The Origins of Jamaican Popular Music
• “Grenada Intervention: The Inside Story”, 2009.
• “Revelations: Beyond Political Boundaries”, Lectures 2005 - 2009.
• “Edward Seaga: My Life and Leadership: Clash of Ideologies”, Volume 1, Macmillan Publishers, (published, October 2009).
• Edward Seaga: Shaping History: Hard Road to Travel”, Volume 2, Macmillan Publishers, (to be published, 2010).

Personal[link]

Seaga who was born in the Evangeline Boothe Memorial Salvation Army Hospital in Boston while his parents were in the U.S.A., enjoyed dual nationality but he made the momentous decision in 1959 to formally relinquish his American citizenship so that he could serve “one flag” alone.

On August 22, 1965, he married Marie Elizabeth “Mitsy” Constantine, Miss Jamaica 1965. They had two sons, Christopher, Andrew and a daughter Anabella. This marriage was dissolved in 1995.

On June 14, 1996, he married Carla Frances Vendryes MPA, who holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration. Seaga’s special areas of interest are sociological research and, the development of Jamaican handicraft. She was responsible for the development of the Solidarity project to assist the poorest of the poor in small entrepreneurial enterprises and has initiated an organization to assist victims of violence. They have a daughter Gabrielle, born September 16, 2002.

Seaga is deeply involved in cultural activities, particularly folk music and all aspects of things Jamaican. A keen gardener and amateur landscaper, Mr. Seaga translated his love for plants and flowers into the beautiful Enchanted Garden resort, which became a unique attraction in Jamaica.

As an athlete he played on several teams at Wolmers Boys School and Harvard University: field hockey, cricket, football, rifle, tennis and swimming (diving). He continues to be an avid sportsman: member of various hunting clubs and the Jamaica Skeet Club. He is also at the community level, and President of the Tivoli Gardens Football, Basketball and Netball Clubs. He recently became Chairman of the Premier League Football Association and the Professional Football Association of Jamaica with responsibility for the 12 Premier League teams and the staging of the Premier League.

On January 20, 2005, Mr. Seaga retired as Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, a position which he held for 30 years as well as Member of Parliament after serving for 43 years in the House of Representatives, in addition to two years in the Senate, the longest period of continuous service of any elected representative in the Caribbean region.

With his recent appointments as a Distinguished Fellow by the University of the West Indies, Fellow of the Institute of Jamaica and Pro-Chancellor of the University of Technology, he is now engaged in research and writing which will draw on his immense storehouse of experience.

References[link]

External links[link]

• Government of Jamaica Information Service Biography Page

v t e Prime Ministers of Jamaica Alexander Bustamante† · Norman Manley† · Alexander Bustamante · Donald Sangster · Hugh Shearer · Michael Manley · Edward Seaga · Michael Manley · P. J. Patterson · Portia Simpson-Miller · Bruce Golding · Andrew Holness · Portia Simpson-Miller † Served as Chief Minister of Jamaica

Peter Mark Andrew Phillips (born 15 November 1977) is the only son of Princess Anne, The Princess Royal and her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips. He is the eldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Born in 1977, Peter Phillips holds no royal title or style and is currently 11th in the line of succession to the thrones of the 16 Commonwealth realms. After graduating from university in 2000, he worked for Jaguar followed by WilliamsF1. In 2003, while working for WilliamsF1 in Canada, he met Autumn Kelly, whom he married in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in 2008. Phillips keeps a low public profile, carrying out no royal duties, and for many years worked for the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Early life[link]

Peter Phillips was born at 10:46 am on 15 November 1977 at St Mary's Hospital, Paddington in west London.^[1] He was the first child of Mark Phillips and The Princess Anne, who had married in 1973.^[1] His parents were said to have refused offers from The Queen that would have led to his being born in the peerage. Phillips was therefore the first legitimate grandchild of a monarch to be born without a title or courtesy style for more than 500 years.^[1] Before him the last grandchildren born without any title or style were the children of Cecily of York, the daughter of Edward IV. At birth he was fifth in line to the Throne, and remained so until Prince William's birth in 1982. At the time of his birth, there was a 41-gun salute from the Tower of London.^[1] He was baptised Peter Mark Andrew Phillips on 22 December 1977 by the then Archbishop of Canterbury Donald Coggan in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace.^[2] His godparents were his uncle, The Prince of Wales, the Rt. Rev'd. Geoffrey Tiarks, Captain Hamish Lochare, Lady Cecil Cameron of Lochiel and Mrs Timothy Holderness-Roddam.^[3] Princess Anne and Captain Phillips (who also had a daughter, Zara, in 1981) tried to ensure that their children were kept out of the limelight.^[4] Phillips has two half-sisters, Felicity Tonkin (born 1985), the daughter of Mark Phillips and his former mistress Heather Tonkin,^[5] and Stephanie Phillips (born 1997), the daughter of his father's second marriage to Sandy Pflueger.

Peter Phillips went to Port Regis Prep School in Shaftesbury, Dorset before following other members of the Royal Family by attending Gordonstoun School in Moray, Scotland, where he was Head Boy.^[6][7] Then he went to the University of Exeter and graduated with a degree in sports science.^[8] A keen sportsman, Phillips played rugby for the Scottish Schools team.^[8] At university, he played for the Exeter University Rugby League team.

Following the death of his aunt Diana, Princess of Wales, Peter Phillips was known to be very supportive of his cousin Prince William.^[9]

Post-university life[link]

After his graduation in 2000, Phillips worked for Jaguar as corporate hospitality manager and then for WilliamsF1 racing team, where he was sponsorship accounts manager.^[6][8][10] In 2004 while working for WilliamsF1, Phillips was in a van in China with three other employees when the van was hit by a car. Phillips was uninjured.^[11] He left WilliamsF1 in September 2005 and since then has worked for the Royal Bank of Scotland in Edinburgh.^[8] In March 2012, he left RBS to pursue other interests. ^[12]

Unlike his sister's, Peter Phillips' personal life is rarely publicised.^[6] He dated Elizabeth Iorio, an American cod liver oil heiress, for two years and in 2001 they lived together for eight months.^[9] Later, he had a four-month relationship with Tara Swain, an air stewardess.^[13]

Wife and children[link]

In 2003, Phillips met Autumn Kelly, a Canadian management consultant, at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal.^[6] Their engagement was announced on 28 July 2007.^[8] The Queen gave her consent to the marriage in a meeting of her Privy Council on 9 April 2008.^[14]

Before her marriage, Autumn Kelly converted from Roman Catholicism to Anglicanism. If she had been Roman Catholic at the time of the marriage, her husband would have lost his place in the line of the succession to the thrones because of the terms of the constitutions of each of the Commonwealth realms, namely the Act of Settlement 1701.^[15][16] Shortly before their wedding, the couple caused some reported unease in royal circles when they were interviewed and photographed by Hello! magazine, and were reported to have been paid £500,000.^[17][18] They married on 17 May 2008 at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.^[18] The service was conducted by David Conner, the Dean of Windsor.^[19]

The couple lived in Hong Kong after Peter moved jobs within the Royal Bank of Scotland to head their sponsorships activities in the region. They now live in London where Peter continues to work for the bank.^[20] Their first child, and the Queen's first great-grandchild, a daughter named Savannah Anne Kathleen,^[21] was born on 29 December 2010 at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.^[22][23] On Saturday, 23 April, Queen Elizabeth II was present for Savannah Phillips's baptism which took place at Holy Cross Church in Avening, Gloucestershire, near the Princess Royal's home, Gatcombe Park. Savannah is 12th in line for the throne. ^[24] On 29 March 2012, Autumn gave birth to another girl, Isla Elizabeth Phillips, weighing 7lbs 4oz. Isla is 13th in line for the throne.^[25]

Titles, styles, honours and arms[link]

Arms[link]

Arms of Peter Phillips Notes These arms were granted to Peter William Garside Phillips, the father of Mark Phillips and grandfather of Peter Mark Andrew Phillips, in October 1973. Mark used these arms differenced with a three-point label, and the younger Peter with a five-point label, until Mark inherited the plain arms in 1998.[26][27] Escutcheon Per chevron azure and Or, in chief a horse courant argent, and in base a sprig of forget-me-not flowers, slipped and leaved proper.[26]

Ancestry[link]