Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke is dead

Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke is dead.

Clarke died Thursday morning on his way from the United States where he had undergone surgery and medical treatment for a back condition.

“We just heard the news that Minister Clarke decided to return home and collapsed at the Fort Lauderdale airport, his wife was with him and he has passed ….” said People's National Party (PNP) Deputy General Secretary, Raymond Pryce.

The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has also reacted with shock at  his passing.

“Well we are greatly saddened by this , it is a shock to me, Roger has been a very good friend of mine over all these years , before even going into politics, it’s a great shock to me. The last time I spoke to him, he was actually recovering from his surgery,” said  JLP spokesman for Agriculture and Fisheries J.C. Hutchinson

Roger Clarke was born in Glen Islay, Westmoreland.

He attended Mannings School and late worked extensively with sugar estates.

In 1986, he was elected councillor for the Balaclava division and mayor of  Black River.        

In September of 1991, he moved up from the local government ranks after he was elected Member of  Parliament for North East St Elizabeth. 

In January of  1992, Clarke was chosen as the People's National Party's Minister of State in the Ministry of  Agriculture and at the beginning of  1995 was appointed Minister of Local Government and Works.

In September of 1995, Clarke was voted in as vice president of  the PNP. in 1998, he was shifted to the Agriculture Ministry

Roger Clarke was also a former president of  the St Elizabeth branch of the Jamaica Agricultural Society and was a member of  the JAS national board.

He also served as a member of the Rural Electrification, National Water Commission and the National Library boards.