The prime minister, Donald Sangster, lay dying. It is March 21, 1967, and the nation is caught up in a grim drama that is slowly winding down to an untimely end. The government is in disarray, as unexpected events were threatening to provoke a leadership crisis of immense proportions.

The ailing prime minister had named an acting prime minister from his sickbed, but there were other leadership ambitions that would have to be considered. The man so named, Clem Tavares, had been given a short time to consolidate his position.

Hovering around was Robert Lightbourne, who had acted occasionally as deputy prime minister, but who had unsuccessfully challenged Sangster for first deputy leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) last year — November 26, 1966 — and was now without any official position in the party.

The former prime minister, still all powerful and still leader — Sir Alexander Bustamante — had made his choice quite clear. He fancied Hugh Shearer.

The news headlines reporting on Sangster terminal illness plunged the nation into mourning. Donald Sangster was an exceptional politician.

Born into wealth and a well known family, he had first tasted politics at the age of 21 when he won a seat on the St Elizabeth Parochial Board (now known as the St Elizabeth Parish Council.) At that age, he was Jamaica’s youngest-ever elected representative.

The popular Sangster commanded respect as an outstanding Munro athlete, St Elizabeth cricket team captain, football player for Black River, racehorse owner, excellent dancer, party enthusiast, and well known lawyer.

Donald always had choices. His first step into party politics was on a PNP platform when, tutored by none other than Norman Manley, he was instrumental in forming the Brompton group of the People’s National Party (PNP).

He dallied in those formative years with either party before running unsuccessfully as an independent in the 1944 General Election.

He ran on a JLP ticket in the 1949 elections, defeating his perennial rival and friend B B Coke to win the St Elizabeth Southern seat.

He was placed into the finance minister’s position when Sir Harold Allen died in 1953, lost his seat in the 1955 General Election, won a Clarendon by-election later that year, and remained Bustamante’s and the JLP’s trusted lieutenant in successive JLP administrations.

Sangster skilfully steered Jamaica into a position of leadership and well earned respect on the international front while carrying out his duties, particularly when he became acting prime minister in the shadows of Bustamante’s illness shortly after Independence.

Indeed, he was arguably Jamaica’s most well known international leader in political history, gaining high regard in all the Commonwealth countries, and earning the sobriquet “Mr Commonwealth”.

But, around him was a gathering storm of jealousy inside his own party. He had held a senior position from the very beginning, but now arrows were being tipped and surreptitious visits were being made to Busta bringing whispered reports and gossip against the man.

He rode out a challenge for first deputy leader from Lightbourne in 1966. He totalled 808 votes to his challenger’s 303.

As full prime minister after winning the general election on February 21, 1967, he appointed his own Cabinet, but declined to name Lightbourne as deputy prime minister. According to Hartley Neita’s biography on Sangster, Lightbourne refused to accept his ministerial appointment and walked out of the meeting. Lightbourne also boycotted the swearing-in ceremony that afternoon, but that night informed Sangster that he was available for office.

Sangster also removed from membership of the Senate Dr Frederick Duhaney, Egerton Wright and Wilton Hill. Hill had earlier resigned from the Cabinet over a disagreement with the PM. There was no mumbling, no dissent, no press releases issued. Indeed, the public was largely unaware of any internal rumblings.

Three weeks into his prime ministership he fell in the bathroom on March 18 while preparing the budget at Bush Cottage, Newcastle.

An ambulance sped down the hill that morning with the fallen prime minister. He was taken to Vale Royal and then ordered to be flown to the Montreal Neurological Institute on March 21.

Before leaving he appointed Clem Tavares, who was the second deputy leader, to act as prime minister, and Edward Seaga to act as finance minister.

The Cabinet sent Dr Herbert Eldemire, health minister, and Hugh Shearer, the external affairs minister, to monitor his condition and liaise with medical and government officials.

As news and rumours swirled around Jamaica, his condition worsened each day. The nation started to pray.

Now, all eyes were on the JLP and the leadership succession. Ambitions surface. Anticipating that Sangster could die, the lobbying starts.

Clem Tavares was a tough man and represented a tough St Andrew constituency. He was going to be no walkover. Lightbourne was a brilliant man and Jamaica’s most effective Minister of Industry to date. He spoke the part with a deep Oxonian accent, was tall and distinguished looking, and slightly contemptuous of mediocrity. But he was a winning politician who won by convincing margins in his St Thomas constituency.

If Sangster was “the forgotten prime minister” — as his biography is entitled — then Shearer was the reluctant prime minister.

Handsome, debonair, a powerhouse as BITU leader, and successor to Busta in his Clarendon seat, he was Busta’s man for the post. But he was not actively seeking the job.

As the debate and the whispers increase in tempo, Tavares lays claim as deputy leader. Lightbourne seeks Busta’s ear and even sketches out the names of his Cabinet in a document which he later shows to Governor General Sir Clifford Campbell.

With doubt all round as to how to proceed, Attorney General Victor Grant advises Sir Clifford that he is obliged to choose an elected member of the House “best able to command the confidence of a majority of the House”.

The GG, mindful of the Constitution, summons the JLP parliamentarians to a vote to decide.

A tearful Eldemire and Shearer retun to the island in time for the fateful meeting on Wednesday, April 5. Just before the voting began House Speaker E C L Parkinson receives a letter from Bustamante recommending Shearer, and asking that the letter be read to the gathering. Parkinson calls the three candidates together and reads them the letter, but suggests it should not be read to the others, as it had been earlier agreed that neither of the candidates should address the meeting. The letter could be construed as a speech on Shearer’s behalf. All three men agree.

The first vote saw Tavares 12, Shearer 10, Lightbourne 8, one spoilt — It was always believed that the spoilt vote was Shearer’s. No clear majority and a second vote was cast. This time Shearer 16, Tavares 15. Shearer’s vote was increased to 17 when a vote was taken at Elliston Wakeland’s sickbed.

Back in Montreal, Sangster is knighted on April 7. He takes his last breath on April 11. A giant tree had fallen in the forest. Four hours later in Kingston, Jamaica, Shearer is sworn in as prime minister.

Tavares and Lightbourne are not pleased, but they keep their petulance out of the public eye. Both go on to become dynamic ministers of government in their own right.

Lance Neita is a public relations and communications specialist. Contact at lanceneita@hotmail.com