Prime Minister Bruce Golding & Family Rescued At Sea

Prime Minister Bruce Golding, members of his family and friends were rescued by the Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard Saturday afternoon after a boat in which they were travelling back to the mainland ran aground off the south coast.


Well-known Jamaica Labour Party stalwart, Saleem Lazrus, treasurer for the Western Kingston constituency that Golding represents, was also on the ill-fated boat (said to be over 50ft) located eight miles from Old Harbour Bay and 12 miles from Port Royal.

Minister with responsibility for information, Daryl Vaz,said that the incident took place at about 4:30 pm.


“No one is injured, all are safe, everybody is fine. At no time was anyone at risk; it was just a matter of coordinating to have them taken off the boat,” Vaz explained.

The minister, who is a close friend of Golding, disclosed that the prime minister’s son was set to be married on Sunday, and a family day out on one of the islands was arranged.

After witnessing his son's wedding today, Prime Minister Golding is scheduled to address the nation tonight in a national broadcast in which he is expected to give more detailed reasons for his decision to step down as leader of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and, after that, as head of the Government, following the election of a new JLP leader at the party's annual conference in November.