Historian and former government minister, Professor Brinsley Samaroo, has died at age 84.

His passing was confirmed by his family on Sunday.

It follows a short stay in hospital for an unknown sickness.

Professor Samaroo dedicated much of his career to teaching history at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.

In the earlier part of his career, he had a stint in politics,  serving as an Opposition Senator during the Second Republican Parliament.

He was subsequently elected to the House of Representatives in 1986 as the Member for Nariva and served as a Minister of Government during the Third Republican Parliament.