Jamaica Labour Party MP Karl Samuda said it was a "great surprise" when general secretary Dr Horace Chang today announced that he will not be seeking re-election as MP for St Andrew North Central.

"The comment caught me totally off guard," said Samuda, 82, the joint longest-serving parliamentarian in Jamaica's history.

Samuda said he does not intend to run for office again but was following a process.

Chang also said Mike Henry, the 89-year-old MP for Clarendon Central who holds the record with Samuda, will also retire.

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