# Donald Keith Duncan > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Donald_Keith_Duncan > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Donald_Keith_Duncan.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Keith_Duncan > Source revision: 1349323824 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Jamaican dental surgeon and politician (1940–2020)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}} {{Use British English|date=September 2020}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = | name = Donald Keith Duncan | honorific_suffix = [CD](/source/Order_of_Distinction_(Jamaica)) | image = Donald_keith_Duncan.jpg | office = Minister of National Mobilization & Human Resource Development | monarch = [Elizabeth II](/source/Elizabeth_II) | governor_general = [Sir Florizel Glasspole](/source/Florizel_Glasspole) | prime_minister = [Michael Manley](/source/Michael_Manley) | term_start = 1977 | term_end = 1980 | predecessor = | successor = | monarch1 = | governor1 = | prime_minister1 = | office1 = | term_start1 = | term_end1 = | predecessor1 = | successor1 = | birth_name = | birth_date = 1940 | birth_place = [St. Ann](/source/Saint_Ann_Parish), [Colony of Jamaica](/source/Colony_of_Jamaica) | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|2020|09|17|1940}} | death_place = [Kingston, Jamaica](/source/Kingston%2C_Jamaica) | party = [People's National Party](/source/People's_National_Party) | spouse = {{Marriage|[Beverley Manley](/source/Beverley_Manley) (née Anderson)|2012}} | children = 5 | alma_mater = | awards = }} '''Donald Keith "D.K." Duncan''', [CD](/source/Order_of_Distinction_(Jamaica)), (1940 – 17 September 2020) was a Jamaican dental surgeon and politician, representing the [People's National Party](/source/People's_National_Party) (PNP). He served as Minister of National Mobilization & Human Resource Development (1977–1980). ==Early life and education== Duncan was born in 1940 in [Brown's Town](/source/Brown's_Town), [St. Ann](/source/Saint_Ann_Parish). He attended [Jamaica College](/source/Jamaica_College) in the 1950s.{{cite news|url=http://www.jcobaca.org/other-scholars/ |title=Scholarships Awarded to Jamaica College Students Since 1936 |publisher=Jamaica College OBA (Canada) |access-date=2020-09-18}} ==Dental career== Duncan attended [McGill University](/source/McGill_University) in [Canada](/source/Canada) where he obtained a degree in dentistry in 1965. He operated private dental practices in [Kingston](/source/Kingston%2C_Jamaica) and in [Brown's Town](/source/Brown's_Town). ==Political career== Duncan became National Organiser for the [People's National Party](/source/People's_National_Party) in 1972 before being elevated to the position of General Secretary in June 1974, succeeding Kenneth Chin-Onn.{{cite news |url=https://www.loopjamaica.com/content/dk-duncans-contributions-conflicts-and-controversies |title=DK Duncan's contributions, conflicts and controversies |publisher=Loop News |date=September 17, 2020 |access-date=2020-09-17 |archive-date=26 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026124228/https://www.loopjamaica.com/content/dk-duncans-contributions-conflicts-and-controversies |url-status=dead }} He first ran for elected office in [December 1976](/source/1976_Jamaican_general_election) when he won the general election from the [St. Andrew East Central](/source/Saint_Andrew_East_Central_(Jamaica_Parliament_constituency)) constituency, polling 9,301 votes to the JLP's Ashley Williams (4,209).{{cite news|url=https://ecj.com.jm/election-results/general-election-1976/ |title=General Election 1976 |publisher=[Electoral Commission of Jamaica](/source/Electoral_Commission_of_Jamaica) |access-date=2020-09-18}} He was appointed Minister of Mobilization in January 1977 and served in that post until 1980. Although the PNP lost the [1980 general election](/source/1980_Jamaican_general_election), Duncan was returned to Parliament from the constituency, but lost the seat when the PNP decided not to contest the [1983 election](/source/1983_Jamaican_general_election).{{cite news|url=https://nlj.gov.jm/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Election-Results-1944-2016.pdf |title=Members of Parliament(Election Results from 1944-2016) |publisher=[National Library of Jamaica](/source/National_Library_of_Jamaica) |date= November 1, 2016 |access-date=2020-09-17}} After 1983, Duncan returned to his dental practice. He was briefly affiliated with the New Beginnings Movement political pressure group in the 1990s. In 1996, Duncan joined the [Bruce Golding](/source/Bruce_Golding)-led [National Democratic Movement](/source/National_Democratic_Movement_(Jamaica)). He remained a member until his return to the PNP in 2007.{{cite news|url=https://buzz-caribbean.com/life/here-are-some-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-dr-dk-duncan/ |title=Here are some things you probably didn't know about Dr DK Duncan |publisher=Buzz Caribbean News |date= September 17, 2020 |access-date=2020-09-17}} Duncan contested the 2007 general election on behalf of the PNP and was elected from the [Hanover Eastern](/source/Hanover_Eastern) constituency. He went on to serve two terms in Parliament. Duncan retired from representational politics in 2016. Duncan served as a member of the former Electoral Advisory Committee (1981–1982) and subsequently as a member of the [Electoral Commission of Jamaica](/source/Electoral_Commission_of_Jamaica) (ECJ) from 2010 to 2014.{{cite news|url=https://ecj.com.jm/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ECJ_History_Report.pdf |title=History of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica |publisher=[Electoral Commission of Jamaica](/source/Electoral_Commission_of_Jamaica) |page=47 |date= September 1, 2014 |access-date=2020-09-17}} ==Honors and awards== * In 2019, Duncan was conferred with the [Order of Distinction](/source/Order_of_Distinction_(Jamaica)), Commander class, for services to the Electoral Commission of Jamaica.{{cite news|url=http://radiojamaicanewsonline.com/local/over-100-persons-to-be-conferred-with-national-honours-and-awards |title=Over 100 persons to be conferred with national honours and awards |publisher=[Radio Jamaica](/source/RJR_94_FM) |date= August 6, 2019 |access-date=2020-09-18}} == Personal life and death == Duncan was first married to Joan Rennals, whom he met at [McGill University](/source/McGill_University) in the 1960s.{{cite news|url=https://www.jmmb.com/december-joan-duncan |title=Joan Duncan |publisher=Jamaica Money Market Brokers |date=December 14, 2018 |access-date=2020-09-17}} He then married Grace Verona Powe in December 1976. She died on 10 September 2010.{{cite news|url=https://entertainmentoverdose.co.uk/news/dr-dk-duncan-dead-iconic-jamaican-political-leader-dies-at-80-278740.html |title=Dr. DK Duncan Dead: Iconic Jamaican Political Leader Dies at 80 |publisher=Entertainment Overdose (UK) |date= September 18, 2020 |access-date=2020-09-18}} Duncan then married [Beverley Manley](/source/Beverley_Manley) (née Anderson) on 21 January 2012. Duncan has 8 children: Keith Duncan, Donna Duncan-Scott, Patricia Duncan-Sutherland, Dawn Duncan, [Imani Duncan-Price](/source/Imani_Duncan-Price), Josina Duncan and David Duncan.{{cite news|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20200917/five-facts-about-dk-duncan |title=Five facts about DK Duncan |publisher=[Jamaica Gleaner](/source/Jamaica_Gleaner) |date= September 17, 2020 |access-date=2020-09-17}} Duncan tested positive for [COVID-19](/source/COVID-19) on 30 August 2020, during the [COVID-19 pandemic in Jamaica](/source/COVID-19_pandemic_in_Jamaica) and was admitted to hospital.{{cite news|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Dr_DK_Duncan_tests_positive_for_COVID?profile=1228 |title=DK Duncan tests positive for COVID-19 |publisher=[Jamaica Observer](/source/Jamaica_Observer) |date=August 30, 2020 |access-date=2020-09-17}} He died from complications of COVID-19 at the University Hospital of the West Indies, [Kingston, Jamaica](/source/Kingston%2C_Jamaica), on 17 September 2020, aged 80.{{cite news |url=https://wiredja.com/index.php/news/local-news/jamaica-dr-donald-keith-dk-duncan-is-dead-at-age-80 |title=Dr. Donald Keith (DK) Duncan is dead at age 80 |publisher=Wired Jamaica Online News |access-date=2020-09-17 |archive-date=4 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201004185049/https://wiredja.com/index.php/news/local-news/jamaica-dr-donald-keith-dk-duncan-is-dead-at-age-80 |url-status=dead }} ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Portal bar|Biography|Politics}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Duncan, Donald Keith}} Category:1940 births Category:2020 deaths Category:Date of birth missing Category:Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Jamaica Category:People from Saint Ann Parish Category:Government ministers of Jamaica Category:People's National Party (Jamaica) politicians Category:Members of the House of Representatives of Jamaica Category:McGill University alumni Category:Jamaican dentists Category:People educated at Jamaica College --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Donald Keith Duncan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Keith_Duncan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Keith_Duncan?action=history)). 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