Word: seaga
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...protests that paralyzed much of the Caribbean island last week were so harmonious. At least seven people were killed and 20 injured in angry demonstrations and looting triggered by a 21% rise in fuel prices, the latest austerity measure by the government of Prime Minister Edward Seaga. Protesters blocked roads with debris until broadcast appeals by Seaga and his political opponent, former Prime Minister Michael Manley, ended the disturbances by late Wednesday. Soon after, a calm blanketed the city, broken only by sporadic looting and the sound of bulldozers clearing the wreckage from the streets...
Jamaica's economic ills have kept social tensions high for the past year. Gasoline and electricity costs have nearly doubled in that time, and food prices have rocketed since Seaga's election in 1980. Unemployment stands at 25%, aggravated by Seaga's firing of 5,000 civil servants as a cost-cutting measure...
...bright spot has been the revival of tourism, which declined dramatically during the 1970s because of political violence and anti-U.S. rhetoric. Under Seaga, it has bounced back and is now worth an estimated $435 million. Most of the 12,000 tourists on the island were unaffected by the demonstrations, except for the postponement of a few homeward flights for 24 hours. Indeed, the protests barely reached the north coast resort area. And even though many flights from the U.S. into Kingston were canceled for two days, planes continued to land 85 miles to the northwest at Montego...
...question period after the hour-long speech, Seaga defended his treatment of the opposition party. "When opposition to my government arose, I had two choices. I could either have resigned or held an election. As my resignation would have caused great trauma to the people of Jamaica. I decided to hold elections." The opposition party boycotted the December 1983 elections, and Seaga's Labour Party took all 60 seats in the Parliament...
...subject of Grenada, Seaga said that Jamaica, which sent an invasion force to aid the U.S. Marines, was entitled to remove the threat of an "Amin-like leader" under the write of the Organization of Eastern Carbbcan states...