Above: (left) Former Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke in 2012

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Jamaica Agriculture Minister Roger Clarke passed away on Thursday morning, the government announced in a statement.

Clarke died in hospital where he had completed a surgery, the government said.

Clarke had served eight different terms in Jamaica’s Parliament, having also served as Minister of Local Government and Works, as State Minister for Agriculture and mayor of Black River and Chairman of the St Elizabeth Parish Council.

In his most recent role, Clarke had served as Minister of Agriculture since the People’s National Party’s 2012 election victory.

He had been a major proponent of improving Jamaica’s domestic food security.

“Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has expressed condolences to the family and friends of Minister Clarke on behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica,” the government said.

Clarke was married with two children.