The Kingston College community mourns the passing of Ambassador the Honourable Anthony Johnson, OJ, former Cabinet Minister, and retired diplomat.
According to the Governor General of Jamaica, Sir Patrick Allen, “The country has lost a former Statesman who made an outstanding contribution to national life, Ambassador Johnson will always be remembered as a quiet but effective Parliamentarian and Government Minister who served with distinction in various Ministries including Education, Technology, Industry and Commerce, Agriculture and Mining”.
Ambassador Johnson served with distinction in the United States, United Kingdom, the Republic of Finland, the Republic of Ireland, and the Kingdoms of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
In 2016, he was invested with the Order of Jamaica for his outstanding contribution to the country.
He was also a University Lecturer and author of eleven books including, The Brave May Fall but Never Yield - The History of Kingston College 1925 - 2006.
Johnson graduated from Kingston College, and went on to earn a BA in Economics and an MA in International Trade and Finance from the University of California at Los Angeles. He was an Inter-American Press Association Scholarship winner in 1960 (due to his work with the Gleaner Company and the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation), was honoured three times for academic excellence at UCLA, and was a Senior Fulbright Scholar in 1980.
Johnson began his career in the public sector. He worked as an economist for the Ministry of Finance and as a planner for the Central Planning Unit of Jamaica. From 1970 to 1980, Johnson dabbled in the private sector, running the operations of Jamaica Frozen Foods, Jamgro Ltd. and the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica.
In 1980, Johnson joined the Jamaica Labour Party and was appointed to the Senate. He left the Senate in 1983 to become a Member of Parliament representing Northeast St. Catherine Parish, a post that he held for ten years.
During his time in parliament, Johnson's portfolio included—though not all at once—industry, commerce, mining, energy, technology, education, and agriculture. He joined the Senate once again in 1993, this time for a period of fourteen years.
From 1992 to 2008, throughout his time as Senator and MP, Johnson lectured at the University of the West Indies with the Department of Management Studies. Johnson is also noted for being the first Jamaican council member of Parliamentarians for Global Action, a post that he held from 2001 to 2003.
He is survived by his wife Pamela and four children including his daughter Kamina Johnson-Smith a member of the Jamaican Senate and a diplomat.
View the PBC video, Ambassador Johnson – A Legacy of Excellence and Service:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8W8_K4gK50