BRADES, Montserrat (January 18, 2011) – Minister for the Overseas Territories Henry Bellingham has sent the following message on the passing of former chief minister Dr. John A. Osborne.

“I learned with sadness of the death of former Chief Minister John Osborne. Although, sadly, I did not have the opportunity to meet Dr. Osborne, I know what a seminal figure he was in the public life of Montserrat. His contribution was wide-ranging and immense. Today many think of him first and foremost as a politician, where his success in leading Montserrat to economic self-sufficiency was so tragically undermined by nature, but no one should forget Dr. Osborne’s contribution to the private sector and especially to the shipping industry of which he was rightly proud. We will not see his like again.

“On behalf of the United Kingdom Government I send my condolences to his family for their loss.”