Former Mayor of Kingston, Colleen Yap Sang has passed away.

Mrs Yap Sang, who served from 1982 to 1984, was the Capital’s first mayor of Chinese descent.

Current Mayor of Kingston, Delroy Williams and Prime Minister Andrew Holness have expressed condolences to the Yap Sang family.

Mr Holness described Mrs Yap Sang as a long-serving member of the Jamaica Labour Party, who offered her service to citizens.

Local Government Minister, Desmond Mckenzie who expressed great sadness at Mrs Yap Sang’s death said her passing is a blow to the Local Government Community, and to him personally.

He described her as a formidable woman, who was highly respected across the political and administrative spectrum for her knowledge and abilities.

He also hailed her as true a trailblazer and an embodiment of the country’s motto “Out of Many One People”.