James Alexander George Smith McCartney

Who was James Alexander George Smith McCartney?

James Alexander George Smith McCartney also known as J. A. G. S. McCartney or "Jags" McCartney was a politician from the Turks and Caicos Islands. He was the island territory's first Chief Minister and held that position from August 1976 until 9 May 1980, when he died in a plane crash over New Jersey.

McCartney was born in Grand Turk to an accomplished Jamaican barrister, Harvey O. B. Fernandez McCartney and a Sunday school pianist, Sally McCartney, née Taylor of the Turks and Caicos. He was named after a prominent Jamaican barrister and distinguished legislator, James Alexander George Smith.

J.A.G.S. McCartney was the first leader and founder of the People's Democratic Movement, a grassroots organization established to address the many social and economic ills that had been pervasive throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. A central goal of his was the attainment of self-determination for the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands. McCartney had particularly sought to mobilize the youth in the political process.