Eduardo Cruickshank Smith (29 January 1958 – 5 March 2025) was a Costa Rican politician as well as an Evangelical pastor, lawyer, and notary. He is the former President of the Costa Rican parliament, a position he held from 2020 to 2021. He is the first Afro-Costa Rican to ever hold that position.[1]
He died on 5 March 2025 after complications during a medical procedure.[2]
Personal life
Cruickshank was born in a Jamaican-Costa Rican family of 8 children. His brother Clinton Cruickshank Smith is also a politician, being a former legislator and former presidential candidate of the National Liberation Party.[3] His father as a carpenter and his mother was a housewife.[4]
Before entering politics he was pastor at the Colina de su Gloria church in his hometown of Limón, and has a degree in law from the University of Costa Rica.[3] He is married to Jeannette Edwards and has two children: Jermaine Eduardo Cruickshank Edwards and Yocelyn Shavony Cruickshank Edwards. He is also a grandfather.[3]
He died on 5 March 2025 after complications during a medical procedure.[2]
Political career
Having been first elected to the Legislative assembly of Costa Rica in 2018, he was elected president of said assembly in 2020.[5]
In the spring of 2021, Cruickshank announced his candidacy for the upcoming 2022 Costa Rican general election, running on an anti-corruption and pro-business campaign.[4]
References
- ^ "Eduardo Cruickshank becomes first Afro-Costa Rican to preside over Legislative Assembly". The Tico Times. 2 May 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Eduardo Cruickshank, expresidente del Congreso, fallece a los 67 años". La Nación. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
- ^ a b c "Eduardo Cruickshank: the pastor passionate about politics elected new president of Legislative Assembly". 1 May 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ a b "Conozca al candidato: Eduardo Cruickshank, aspirante de Restauración Nacional" (in Spanish). Teletica. 2 December 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ "Eduardo Cruickshank es el nuevo presidente del congreso". Diario Extra (in Spanish). 1 May 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2021.