Hugh L. Shearer, Jamaican leader

KINGSTON, Jamaica -- Hugh Lawson Shearer, a trade unionist who turned to politics and led the Caribbean country as prime minister from 1967 to 1972, died at his home Monday. He was 81.

Mr. Shearer entered politics in 1955 and became a member of Parliament. He became Jamaica's third prime minister in April 1967.

During Mr. Shearer's five years in office, he presided over an economy that consistently recorded positive growth.