In mourning the death of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has described him as a true friend of Jamaica and its people, hailing him as a bold and visionary statesman who promoted the interests of less developed countries.

"He will be long remembered for his willingness to challenge the status quo, to take a stand against inequality and injustice at the individual, national, regional and international levels, and to make the difficult decision in order to achieve the greater good,"said the Jamaican prime minister.

"Jamaica, I am sure, will remember that we were able to benefit from the PetroCaribe Fund as a result of the vision and foresight of President Chavez. He felt Jamaica was very special because Venezuelan liberator, Simon Bolivar, wrote that famous letter from Kingston, Jamaica, calling for unity of the Americas," said the Jamaican prime minister.

Leader of the Opposition Andrew Holness was also among many elite Jamaican mourners who expressed condolences over the death of Chavez.

The Jamaican parliament has planned to give an official tribute to the late Venezuelan president, but the exact date for doing so is not yet known, according to local sources.

Chavez died Tuesday at the age of 58 after a two-year battle with cancer which was first detected in his pelvis. Endi

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