| 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. 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.
Campaign and death
Roy McGann, a candidate from the People's National Party, was campaigning for reelection in the 1980 Jamaican general election. On October 13, at around 6 P.M., a large group of Jamaica Labour Party members began assembling at St. Andrew's Gordon Town Square. Tensions between the groups escalated when two busses of PNP members arrived at the Square before McGann, who arrived shortly after midnight. Local police were also involved, and "during an ensuing melee five persons were shot" including McGann, his bodyguard, two JLP supporters, and a PNP supporter. It was unclear who started the shooting or why either group had assembled in Gordon Town Square.
McCann died on October 14, 1980 roughly two weeks before the 1980 Jamaican general election on October 30. 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. Fears were circulating of a communist takeover because of the support of the leftist Workers Party of Jamaica to the PNP.
McGann's replacement as a candidate was Lloyd 'Perry' Stultz, who lost to Joan Webley (née Gordon), a member of the PNP.
See also
References
- ^ Shipp, Randy (October 15, 1980). "Jamaican official killed in clash between factions". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ "Roy McGann Shot Dead". The Daily Gleaner. Vol. CXLVI, no. 244. Kingston, Jamaica. October 30, 1980. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- "Deputy minister killed in campaign shoot-out". UPI. October 14, 1980. Archived from the original on May 30, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
- ^ 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).
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