James Alexander George Smith McCartney (30 June 1945 – 9 May 1980), also known as J. A. G. S. McCartney or "Jags" McCartney, was a Turks and Caicos Islander politician. He was the 1st Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands and held that position from 31 August 1976 until 9 May 1980, when he died when the private plane he was in crashed near Vineland, New Jersey, while flying from Washington DC to Atlantic City.[1]
McCartney was born in Grand Turk to an accomplished Jamaican barrister, Harvey O. B. Fernandez McCartney and a Sunday school pianist, Sally McCartney, née Taylor of the Turks and Caicos. He was named after a prominent Jamaican barrister and distinguished legislator, James Alexander George Smith (1877–1942).
J.A.G.S. McCartney was the first leader and founder of the People's Democratic Movement (PDM), a grassroots organization established to address the many social and economic ills that had been pervasive throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. A central goal of his was the attainment of self-determination for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. McCartney had particularly sought to mobilize the youth in the political process. A charismatic, dynamic and visionary figure, McCartney was determined to usher in a new Constitution that would foster and safeguard the rights of all Turks and Caicos Islanders, create new opportunities for citizens and advance the Country. Assuming office at age 31, McCartney remains one of the world's youngest democratically elected leaders in history. After his death, his deputy Oswald Skippings became Chief Minister at the age of 26.
National Heroes Day, a holiday celebrated on the last Monday in May, commemorates the life of McCartney. This holiday was later renamed to JAGs McCartney Day in 2020.[2] Additionally, the Grand Turk International Airport is named in honour of him.
References
^"Turks-Caicos Minister Killed in Plane Crash", Miami Herald, May 11, 1980, pD-1
^"Turks and Caicos Public Holidays". Visit Turks and Caicos Islands. 2022-12-27. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
james, alexander, george, smith, mccartney, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources James Alexander George Smith McCartney news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message James Alexander George Smith McCartney 30 June 1945 9 May 1980 also known as J A G S McCartney or Jags McCartney was a Turks and Caicos Islander politician He was the 1st Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands and held that position from 31 August 1976 until 9 May 1980 when he died when the private plane he was in crashed near Vineland New Jersey while flying from Washington DC to Atlantic City 1 James Alexander George Smith McCartney1st Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos IslandsIn office 31 August 1976 9 May 1980MonarchElizabeth IIGovernorArthur Christopher WatsonJohn Clifford StrongSucceeded byOswald Skippings1st National Hero of the Turks and Caicos IslandsPersonal detailsBorn 1945 06 30 30 June 1945Grand Turk Turks and Caicos IslandsDied9 May 1980 1980 05 09 aged 34 near Vineland New Jersey United StatesPolitical partyPeople s Democratic MovementSpouseDorothy M McCartneyMcCartney was born in Grand Turk to an accomplished Jamaican barrister Harvey O B Fernandez McCartney and a Sunday school pianist Sally McCartney nee Taylor of the Turks and Caicos He was named after a prominent Jamaican barrister and distinguished legislator James Alexander George Smith 1877 1942 J A G S McCartney was the first leader and founder of the People s Democratic Movement PDM a grassroots organization established to address the many social and economic ills that had been pervasive throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands A central goal of his was the attainment of self determination for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands McCartney had particularly sought to mobilize the youth in the political process A charismatic dynamic and visionary figure McCartney was determined to usher in a new Constitution that would foster and safeguard the rights of all Turks and Caicos Islanders create new opportunities for citizens and advance the Country Assuming office at age 31 McCartney remains one of the world s youngest democratically elected leaders in history After his death his deputy Oswald Skippings became Chief Minister at the age of 26 National Heroes Day a holiday celebrated on the last Monday in May commemorates the life of McCartney This holiday was later renamed to JAGs McCartney Day in 2020 2 Additionally the Grand Turk International Airport is named in honour of him References Edit Turks Caicos Minister Killed in Plane Crash Miami Herald May 11 1980 pD 1 Turks and Caicos Public Holidays Visit Turks and Caicos Islands 2022 12 27 Retrieved 2022 12 27 Political officesPreceded byOffice established Chief Minister of the Turks and Caicos Islands1976 1980 Succeeded byOswald Skippings This article about a Turks and Caicos Islands politician is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Alexander George Smith McCartney amp oldid 1129922233, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
