Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade have paid tribute to the late John Pringle, the nation's first director of tourism.

"Mr. Pringle gave yeoman service to the hospitality industry and was instrumental in the growth and expansion of the sector," Mrs. Simpson Miller said Tuesday. "A pioneer in the industry, he was arguably ahead of his time, as his involvement in tourism occurred at a time when there was no ministry with full responsibility for the sector and the travel industry had not yet achieved worldwide acclaim."

According to the Foreign Affairs Ministry: "John Pringle was an uncompromising perfectionist who lent his many talents to the service of Jamaica, both at home and overseas. His was an exceptionally colourful and unique personality, which was perfectly suited to the job of marketing Jamaica in its many facets."

Mr. Pringle, who was also a former deputy high commissioner to the United Kingdom, died Tuesday morning at age 81.