Former prime minister Owen Seymour

Arthur died during the early hours of Monday, a brief government statement has

confirmed. He was 70.

It said the Arthur, the longest-serving

head of government, died at 12:26 a.m. (local time).

Arthur, an economist, had been

hospitalised earlier this month at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after suffering

heart-related complications.

“The government of Barbados extends

sincerest condolences to his wife, Julie, his daughters Leah and Sabrna and his

extended family,” the statement said, adding that Colin Jordan,

the Minister of Labour and Social Partnership Relations “will be the

coordinating minister for the funeral arrangements”.

Arthur served as prime minister on

three occasions between September 1994 to January 2008.  He was Leader of

the Opposition in Barbados from August 1,1993 to September 6, 1994; and from

October 23, 2010 to February 21, 2013.

He led the Barbados Labour Party (BLP)

to victory in the 1994 general election and won general elections again in 1999

and 2003.

In the 2008 general election, his party

was defeated by the Democratic Labour Party. Arthur stepped down as party

leader, but remained the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Saint

Peter. He subsequently returned to lead the BLP in 2010, but he was replaced as

party leader after the BLP lost the 2013 general election.