Jamaica pays tribute to former minister Leslie Roy Campbell

Former minister of state, senator, attorney and parliamentarian Leslie Roy Campbell was honoured at a thanksgiving service at Fellowship Tabernacle, where family, church leaders and national officials reflected on his public service, faith and personal generosity.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness attended the service and read the first lesson from Psalm 15. Anthony Hylton, representing Opposition Leader Mark Golding, read from 1 Thessalonians. The service also acknowledged several government officials, members of the judiciary and other dignitaries, with thanks extended to the Government of Jamaica for granting Campbell an official funeral.

Campbell was remembered as a former Member of Parliament for North East St Catherine, a past senator and minister of state, and a long-serving Jamaica Labour Party member. Dr Andre Franklin, deputy chairman of the JLP, said Campbell formally joined the party on February 22, 1999, and served for 27 years across several party bodies, including the central executive, standing committee, operations council and legal and constitutional committee.

Speakers described Campbell as a lawyer with a sharp intellect, a farmer at heart, and a man deeply concerned with Jamaica’s development. Franklin said Campbell cared strongly about food security and believed rural families could build wealth if land registration became easier.

Relatives offered a fuller picture of Campbell’s private life. His sister Audrey Campbell said he was born on July 1, 1958, and died on May 3, 2026. She said he grew up in Glen Golf, St Catherine, attended Grateful Hill Primary School and St Mary’s College, then studied law at Lincoln in London before returning to Jamaica.

Tributes from his daughter, sisters, cousin and friends recalled his humour, discipline, faith, love of farming and support for people who needed legal help. An offering was collected for Grateful Hill Primary School, which speakers said remained close to Campbell’s heart.

Reverend Merrick Al Miller urged mourners to treat Campbell’s life as a call to service, saying Jamaica needed citizens committed to righteousness, truth and justice. The service ended with the national anthem and a recessional.