Ernest Smith, Former MP And Tommy Lee Sparta Lawyer, Dead At 70

Former Member of Parliament for South West St. Ann and prominent attorney-at-law, Ernest Smith, is dead. He was 70 years old.

Smith reportedly passed away at the University Hospital of the West Indies at about 9 p.m. on Wednesday. He had been receiving treatment for cancer over the past 12 months, however, his health began to decline last week.

In July 2021, Smith escaped serious injuries after he was involved in a motor vehicle crash in Friendship in the Brown’s Town area of St Ann. Smith was driving his motor car when he allegedly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a utility pole.

He is survived by widow Lynette Royes-Smith, son Ernest Jr. and four daughters, Nesta Claire, Celia, Michelle and Marsha. Marsha Smith is also an attorney-at-law who was elected to represent the constituency of North East St. Ann in September 2020.

The late Smith, a graduate of York Castle High, qualified as a barrister at age 22, one of the youngest barristers in the Caribbean at the time, and had a long distinguished legal career.

In recent times, he represented incarcerated dancehall artist Tommy Lee Sparta during his numerous run-ins with the law.

Sparta, whose real name is Leroy Russell Junior, 33, was sentenced to three years imprisonment for illegal possession of a firearm in March.  The deejay received a reduced sentence after he pled guilty to the charges and avoided the maximum of 10 to 15 years.