P J Patterson

Governing party leaders selected former Finance Minister P. J. Patterson, a political insider, as prime minister to lead Jamaica through one of its most painful economic periods. Patterson, 56, will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Michael Manley, 67, who announced his resignation earlier this month because of poor health. About 3,100 party delegates voted, supporting Patterson by a 3-1 margin over Labor Minister Portia Simpson, 39, who waged an electrifying grass-roots campaign for the post.

Governing party leaders selected former Finance Minister P. J. Patterson, a political insider, as prime minister to lead Jamaica through one of its most painful economic periods. Patterson, 56, will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Michael Manley, 67, who announced his resignation earlier this month because of poor health. About 3,100 party delegates voted, supporting Patterson by a 3-1 margin over Labor Minister Portia Simpson, 39, who waged an electrifying grass-roots campaign for the post.

Helicopters roared overhead and armored personnel carriers rumbled down capital streets as the army deployed across Jamaica to quell three days of politically charged violence that police said killed at least 20 people. "The government cannot stand idly by and allow criminal elements to hold this country to ransom," Prime Minister P.J. Patterson told reporters after ordering the entire army into the countryside.

Jamaicans protesting tax hikes blocked major roads with burning barricades of tires and furniture, defying police who fired warning shots and tear gas. At least six people were reported killed in the riots. Violent protests have swept the Caribbean island since the government announced $100 million in new taxes Friday. But Prime Minister P.J. Patterson indicated late Wednesday that his government is ready to back down from a 30% increase in fuel prices.

Hugh Shearer, 81, a prime minister in the early stages of Jamaica's independence, died Monday at his home in Kingston, his family announced. The cause of death was not reported. Serving as prime minister from 1967 to 1972, Shearer succeeded Donald Sangster, who died in office. Shearer's "death has deprived Jamaica of a quintessential nationalist and a dedicated political leader," said Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.

Residents rushed to stock up on emergency supplies and made plans to evacuate coastal areas Friday as Hurricane Emily headed toward Jamaica. Packing winds of 115 mph, the second major hurricane of the Atlantic season was expected to pass very close to Jamaica today, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

The conservative People's National Party won a crushing victory Tuesday in parliamentary elections marred by confusion approaching chaos and partisan conflicts that neared serious violence. With more than 60% of the vote counted, computer projections gave the PNP and its leader, Prime Minister P. J. Patterson, at least 64% of the vote against 36% for the opposition Jamaica Labor Party of former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, who conceded defeat.

Michael Manley, the former prime minister who took Jamaica to the forefront of the developing world's nonaligned movement in the 1970s, has died. He was 72. Manley died at his home Thursday night, the official Jampress news agency reported Friday. He had been battling prostate cancer. In his first two terms as prime minister, from 1972 to 1980, Manley was a firebrand socialist and champion of the nonaligned movement.

Gunfire, looting and flaming roadblocks paralyzed Jamaica's capital on Tuesday as protesters defied police firing tear gas and warning shots. One woman was killed and six other people wounded, police said. The Police Information Center said the woman, who was not identified, was shot dead by a private security guard during rioting in Kingston, the capital. Demonstrators were protesting a government decision Thursday to increase gasoline prices from $1.55 a gallon to $2.

Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with U.S. commanders and troops Saturday in Haiti, and warned Haitians engaged in politically related violence that they risk the wrath of the Americans and their comrades-in-arms. "The multinational interim force will not tolerate violence against the multinational force nor violence against Haitian civilians," Myers said. "If there is to be hope for the Haitian people, there must be security and stability in this country.

One night a century ago, a British army civil engineer killed a lion, ending a nine-month reign of terror and setting off wild jubilation by thousands of Indian railroad workers. "They surrounded my eyrie [platform] and, to my amazement, prostrated themselves on the ground, saluting me with cries of 'Mabarak! Mabarak!' which I believe means blessed or savior," Col. P.J. Patterson wrote in his 1907 bestseller, "The Man-Eaters of Tsavo." Patterson shot the lion's mate a few weeks later.