Basil Buck, former parliamentarian and junior minister during the Edward Seaga-led Government in the 1980s was found dead at his home in Stony Hill yesterday. He was 71.

Last night, the Stony Hill police confirmed his death, but could not say whether Buck died from natural causes or was killed.

“We can confirm that he is dead, but the police are on the scene as we speak,” a cop from the Stony Hill Police Station told the Observer.

Yesterday, Seaga, former prime minister and former leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) hailed Buck as a stalwart in the financial sector.

“He was someone who was always very strongly interested in the affairs of the country,” said Seaga. “He continued to have a strong interest in the economy which he maintained right through to the end.”

Seaga also recalled that Buck was instrumental in influencing the reform of the electoral system in the late 1970s.

Leader of the opposition, Bruce Golding, remembered Buck as a man who was very passionate about his beliefs. He also expressed his shock at news of Buck’s death and extended his condolences to Buck’s family on behalf of the JLP.

“He was someone who had very strong opinions and even when one disagreed with the opinion that he had one had to respect him because he was prepared to defend it, he was prepared to argue it. And he was always somebody who was very engaging in terms of the discussions that he would conduct,” Golding told the Observer. “I have consulted him from time to time for advice on a bit of economic and finance-related matters.”

He added: “I am sure I heard him on a radio programme last week and he sounded his well, robust self and therefore I am really shocked to learn of his passing.”

Meanwhile, veteran journalist and talk show host Wilmot ‘Mutty’ Perkins, who often engaged in insightful discussions with Buck on the air, said he was a man of strong conscience.

“He did not stay anywhere just for staying,” said Perkins. “He had his views and he stayed in accordance with them. He had a very strong view, particularly of the economics of Jamaica, one with which I strongly agreed and I enjoyed having him on my programme.”

Buck, a native of Little London, Westmoreland was the minister of state in the Ministry of Mining and Energy from 1980 to 1982 and minister of state in the Office of the Prime Minister from 1982 to 1983. He was also member of parliament for Eastern Hanover between 1980 and 1983.