KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Prime Minister, Opposition and the National Democratic Movement (NDM) have expressed condolences to family and friends of veteran journalist and senior Gleaner political writer Gary Spaulding.

Spaulding’s body was found in the bathroom of his Hughenden, St Andrew, home by police who were forced to break into the building yesterday.

Read: Media rocked by deaths of journalists days apart

Prime Minister Andrew Holness in hailing the life and work of Spaulding in a release yesterday said, “I admired his professionalism and his fairness. His knowledge of the issues was excellent and over the years, you could always depend on him for an objective opinion. Jamaica has lost a dedicated and important contributor to national discourse and we the government recognise this loss”.

In extending condolences to the family of Mr Spaulding, especially his young children, the Prime Minister called on them to be proud of his rich legacy, “the heritage of your father is written on the pages of Jamaica’s history.  His contribution to Jamaica will be read by many in the years to come and his name will live on in our consciousness. We pray for you and ask that your family can find comfort in this time of sorrow.

Holness also extended condolences to the management and staff of the Jamaica Gleaner, “I call on the staff of the Gleaner and journalists all over Jamaica to strive to ensure the legacy of Spaulding is preserved as that is the best way to honour his life”.

Meanwhile, the People’s National Party in a press release last evening extended its “most sincere condolences” to the immediate and Gleaner families of Glenroy Sinclair and Gary Spaulding in particular and the Press Association of Jamaica and the media fraternity in general.

“Our nation has lost two consummate professionals who made a difference in maintaining a free and non-aligned press. These losses are shared by the entire country and so as we mourn and maybe reflect on how little time we had with them because of the nature of their jobs, Jamaica is significantly better off for their sacrifice,” the release said.

The PNP also encouraged people in all walks of life, and particularly those in stressful professions, to “do their regular medical check-ups, exercise regularly and take good care of the wonderful but ever so frail human body of ours.”

The NDM also expressed shock, dismay and surprise at the sudden passing of Spaulding.

“We have known Gary for so many years that it seems like a lifetime. Gary was there at the launch of the Movement on the 29th October 1995 at the Jamaica Conference Centre and was one of many who saw the rise of the Movement as a real game changer for Jamaica,” the NDM said.

“We are most saddened that such a dedicated, hard working and seasoned journalist, who had a special instinct to feel a news story and go after it with vigour and strategic accuracy, to get the truth and publish same, even when attempts of undue influence occurred. Most politicians over the years either liked or disliked Gary but all respected him,” the party added in the release.

Spaulding, the NDM said, has left a vacuum which will be hard to fill. He will be missed, especially by all those who believed in truth and transparency.

Spaulding was found dead at his St Andrew home on Monday.