Joe Edghill, pharmacist-politician, dies at 73

Former Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly Joseph Edghill has died at the age of 73 at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Edghill, a pharmacist by profession who ran Edghill’s Pharmacy in the heart of the Oistins main strip in the Christ Church West Central constituency, represented the Barbados Labour Party in the riding from 1994 to 2008.

He was credited for his work in building the constituency, particularly for being a founding member of the Pride of Gall Hill football club.

Prime Minister Mia Mottley today paid tribute to Edghill,with whom she entered politics in 1991, noting that commitment to people was his hallmark.

She said: “Joe, as he was familiarly known to most, whether constituent or fellow parliamentarian, demonstrated for the 14 years he was a member of the House of Assembly that being a gentleman and a politician did not have to be mutually exclusive.

He maintained the highest standard of decency and decorum at all times, whether canvassing, on the political platform, on the floor of the House, or behind the counter as the consummate community pharmacist that he was. Joe was a stalwart in Oistins, serving the people of Christ Church and farther afield.”

The Prime Minister noted that he left public life in 2008 without a personal or political blemish and his was a life of“service and humility worthy of emulation”.

“Indeed, long before it was popular to talk about people-centred politics Joe cared and embodied the commitment to people in all that he did.”

Edghill is survived by his wife Angela, children and grandchildren.