In his address, after his swearing-in, the new prime minister of Jamaica spoke of the surmounting debt of the country. He shared that just before the elections, the Bank of Jamaica had run out of money and was surviving on a loan from Iran.

Published Sunday November 2, 1980

SEAGA SWORN IN AS PM

-Will also be Finance Minister

-Glasspole continues as GG

-Shearer Deputy Prime Minister

THE HON EDWARD PHILLIP GEORGE SEAGA was sworn in yesterday as the new prime minister of Jamaica in a ceremony at King’s House at which the Governor General, the Most Hon Florizel Glasspole, officiated.

Seaga immediately announced his intention to appoint the Rt Hon Dr Hugh Shearer as deputy prime minister as well as his own appointment as minister of finance.

Seaga also announced that he had invited Mr Glasspole to continue in his capacity as governor general and that Mr Glasspole had accepted.

After taking the Oath of Allegiance and the Oath of Office and receiving the Instrument of Authority from the governor general, Mr Seaga made a lengthy address to several hundred persons, including newly elected members of Parliament from the Jamaica Labour Party who attended the ceremony held on the lush lawns of King’s House.

Huge foreign exchange gap

Seaga said that his new government was faced with a gap of $155 million in the foreign exchange budget for the rest of the financial year but that certain steps had been already initiated to close at least a portion of the gap.

He said that the Bank of Jamaica had actually run out of funds on October 29, the day before the elections, but was saved by a $10 million loan from Iran, which would last to Wednesday.

Other arrangements would have to be put in place.

He said that his government was already investigating the extent of local food supplies and would be able to make certain decisions in that area on Monday.

He said that there was also a problem concerning the availability of fuel oil but that relief in that area was expected shortly.

“Vote against Communism”

Seaga said that in the area of foreign policy, his government had already written the Cuban government requesting that its ambassador in Jamaica, Ulises Estrada, be immediately withdrawn.

He said that he expected the Opposition PNP to be good and effective despite his party’s overwhelming victory and not to be dismayed by the difference in numbers.

But he called on the Opposition to realise that the JLP’s victory was a vote against communist ideas.

Seaga paid tribute to the security forces for the part they had played in making the elections generally peaceful and announced that he had requested the churches to name next Sunday a National Day of Prayer so that Jamaicans could take time off to contemplate what the country had been through. 

He said that he hoped to offer the people of Jamaica a principled and creative government, a government of sanity that knew where it was going, one with conviction and credibility, and one which could maintain relations with the international community as well as all sectors of the local community.

In a brief address, Mr Glasspole said that he believed that Mr Seaga would be able to supply the quality of leadership that was needed in the current crisis.

"I am confident that he will bring all his compassion and humanity to bear in the exercise of his power. I am confident he will do his very best to heal the terrific wounds in our society," Mr Glasspole said.

The prayers and the singing of the National Anthem were led by the Rev Philip Hart, rector of the Kingston Parish Church.

The ceremony was attended by several ambassadors, JLP members of Parliamen, JLP councillors and executives, party supporters, Chief of Staff of the Jamaica Defence Force Brigadier Robert Neish, and Commissioner of Police Bill Bowes. Mr Seaga was accompanied by his wife and children.

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