Former Jamaica Prime Minister Edward Seaga is honored at joint sitting of island's Parliament

KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica has held a special joint sitting of Parliament to honor former Prime Minister Edward Seaga.

Seaga attended the Tuesday session of tributes at Gordon House, the home of Jamaica's bicameral legislature. The 82-year-old still regularly appears at public events.

The accolades to Seaga are part of Jamaica's celebrations of its 50th anniversary of independence from Britain. The government says he was recognized for his role in creating Jamaica's post-independence landscape.

Seaga was prime minister from 1980 until 1989.

He was Jamaica's longest serving Parliament member, representing gritty West Kingston from 1962 until his 2005 retirement.