KINGSTON, Jamaica — President of the People’s National Party (PNP) Dr Peter Phillips says the party is deeply saddened by the passing of the first president of the Mico University College Professor Claude Packer, who died in Florida yesterday.

The party in a release this morning said Professor Packer represented the best of the nation’s educators and his tremendous contribution to the sector cannot be overstated.

He was the creator of several programmes at Mico and the University of the West Indies that facilitated access for many Jamaicans to tertiary level education.

Dr Phillips said Professor Packer upheld the higher standards of the teaching profession and pushed his students to aspire for better for themselves and their own charges.

Having served the teaching profession up to the highest level for more than 49 years, the late professor retired in 2014. He became principal of Mico in 1995 and was subsequently appointed as the first president of Mico in 2009.

His name was synonymous with top-quality tertiary education in Jamaica and beyond, having served as head of the Department of Economics and lecturer in mathematics in the Faculty of Education at the University of the West Indies; lecturer at Cornell University; and external examiner for CSEC mathematics . He was the recipient of several awards and national honours including the Musgrave Medal in 1997 for his contribution to mathematics education in Jamaica, the Governor General’s Achievement Award in 2003, and the Mico Gold Medal for Excellence in 2007. He also received a national honour at the level of Commander of the Order of Distinction in 2008.

Dr Phillips says Jamaica is better for the work and commitment of Professor Packer and extends condolences to his family, friends, colleagues and many students.