Roy McGann | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Parliament of Jamaica from St. Andrew Parish. | |
| Killed in office | |
| Succeeded by | Joan Webley (née Gordon). |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1934 |
| Died | 1980 Gordon Town Square |
| Political party | People's National Party (PNP) |
Roy McGann (1934–1980) was the first government official killed in the history of Jamaica.[1] He was a PNP politician serving as a member of the Parliament of Jamaica for St. Andrew parish. McGann was also the Deputy National Security Minister.[1]
Campaign and death
McGann, from the People's National Party (PNP), was campaigning for reelection in the 1980 Jamaican general election. On October 14, he and his entourage of a few cars went to an opposition Labor Party rally in a Kingston suburb, at St. Andrew's Gordon Town square. A shootout also involving police ensued, killing him and his bodyguard. It was unclear who started the shooting or why he went there. There had been political violence since the announcement by Prime Minister Michael Manley in February of early elections, which eventually claimed more than 800 lives.[2][3] Fears were circulating of a communist takeover because of the support of the leftist Workers Party of Jamaica to the PNP.[3]
McGann's replacement as a candidate was Lloyd 'Perry' Stultz, who lost to Joan Webley (née Gordon).[3]
See also
References
- 1 2 Shipp, Randy (October 15, 1980). "Jamaican official killed in clash between factions". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ↑ "Deputy minister killed in campaign shoot-out". UPI. October 14, 1980. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- 1 2 3 Helps, Hg (October 30, 2012). "The bloody general election that changed Jamaica". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
External links
- Bloody hell! - Victims, ex-cop reflect on 1980 election violence (in Jamaican English).