{{Short description|Jamaican politician (died 2019)}} '''Douglas Vaz''' (died 9 November 2019) was a Jamaican politician.
Vaz was a member of the Jamaica Labour Party, which he represented throughout his political career.<ref>{{cite news |title=JLP mourns, PM pays tribute to Douglas Vaz |url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20191110/jlp-mourns-pm-pays-tribute-douglas-vaz |accessdate=11 November 2019 |work=The Gleaner |date=10 November 2019}}</ref> He was first elected to the Parliament of Jamaica in 1976, from the North Central St Andrew constituency. Vaz switched districts in 1989, to the North East St Andrew constituency, vacating North Central St Andrew for Karl Samuda. Vaz lost his seat in North East St Andrew to Karlene Kirlew-Robertson in 1993. Between 1980 and 1989, Vaz served in the Cabinet of Jamaica formed by prime minister Edward Seaga, as the minister of industry and commerce.<ref>{{cite news |title=Former JLP Cabinet minister Douglas Vaz is dead |url=https://buzz-caribbean.com/article/former-jlp-cabinet-minister-douglas-vaz-is-dead/ |accessdate=11 November 2019 |work=Buzz Caribbean |date=10 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=UPDATE: JLP mourns former Industry, Commerce Minister Douglas Vaz |url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20191110/update-jlp-mourns-former-industry-commerce-minister-douglas-vaz |accessdate=11 November 2019 |work=The Gleaner |date=10 November 2019}}</ref>
==Political views==
In 1973, Douglas Vaz, then president of the Jamaica Manufacturers Association (JMA), publicly criticized Michael Manley’s declaration of support for African liberation struggles. Manley had pledged material and moral support for African independence movements, particularly in Southern Africa, where countries like Zambia and Zimbabwe were fighting against colonial rule and apartheid.<ref>https://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/focus/20190324/louis-ea-moyston-race-and-politics-jamaica-history</ref>
==Personal life==
Vaz married Sonia in 1959. The couple divorced in 1984.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Swimming in money |journal=Black Enterprise |date=April 1991 |volume=21 |issue=9 |page=27 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OV4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27 |issn=0006-4165|last1=Earl g. Graves |first1=Ltd }}</ref> Their son, Daryl Vaz, is also a politician.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Weston |first1=Donique |title=Former Cabinet Minister Douglas Vaz has died |url=https://www.iriefm.net/former-cabinet-minister-douglas-vaz-has-died/ |accessdate=11 November 2019 |publisher=IRIE-FM |date=10 November 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Former government minister, Douglas Vaz is dead |url=http://m.jamaicaobserver.com/latestnews/Former_government_minister_Douglas_Vaz_is_dead |accessdate=11 November 2019 |work=Jamaica Observer |date=10 November 2019}}</ref> Douglas Vaz died in his sleep on 9 November 2019, aged 83.<ref>{{cite news |title=FORMER JAMAICA LABOR PARTY MINISTER DOUGLAS VAZ, DIES AT 83! |url=https://www.clintonlindsay.com/2019/11/10/former-jamaica-labor-party-minister-douglas-vaz-dies-at-83/?wiziapp_back=cat-8 |accessdate=11 November 2019 |publisher=Foundation Media Radio Network |date=10 November 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaz, Douglas}} Category:1930s births Category:2019 deaths Category:Government ministers of Jamaica Category:Members of the House of Representatives of Jamaica Category:Jamaica Labour Party politicians Category:Industry ministers of Jamaica Category:Commerce ministers of Jamaica Category:People from Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica Category:Jamaican people of Puerto Rican descent
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