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Horace Anthony Chang, was born in Westmoreland on November 10, 1952. He attended the New Roads Primary School in Westmoreland and at the age of 11 years, won a place to Cornwall College in Montego Bay, St. James after being succesful in the Common Entrance examination.

It was at Cornwall College that his leadership skills were realised as he served as head boy, president of the 6th Form Association, house captain and was also a member of the Cadet Corp and a founding member of the Rotaract Club. It was during his tenure as head boy that the history and geography clubs were formed. Cornwall College also competed in the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation’s Schools Challenge Quiz and the students further heightened their awareness in history and current affairs with the creation of a Debating Club.

After graduating from Cornwall College in 1972, Horace Chang was awarded an open scholarship to the University of the West Indies where he studied medicine. During this period he provided active student leadership and became further involved in numerous community activities.

He served as:

• President of the Guild of Undergraduates - outstanding guild debts were cleared and credit facilities restored. He also initiated relations with the University Students Federation of Cuba where for the first time cuban students were allowed to visit Jamaica.
• Chairman of the University Games Committee - under his leadership the inter campus games were revived.
• President of the Medical Students’ Association

His professional career as a medical doctor was also succesful. In 1977, he became Medical Officer of Health for the parish of Trelawny. He, along with a team of doctors pioneered among other things the development of a modern public health system for Jamaicans. This included the compulsory immunization of young children and the establishment of type 1,2 and 3 clinics in Trelawny.

In 1998 he moved to Hanover and served as Medical Officer of Health for the community of Green Island. He also established a succesful private practice.

Later Dr. Chang became a part of the Doctors Hospital Group in St. James where as a private practioner he developed a large succesful pre-payment health plan for low income workers.

Dr. Chang’s political career began in 1976 as an active member of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). He first worked as Youth Leader in East Rural St. Andrew and later became Vice President of Young Jamaica, the party’s youth arm. Here he led the way for the reorganisation of the party.

In October 1980, at the tender age of 27 years, Dr. Chang was elected Member of Parliament for Western Hanover. He was instrumental in rebuilding the industrial estate through the establishment of factories in food processing and garment manufacturing. This resulted in the creation of jobs for over 1,000 residents in Hanover.

The tourism sector in Negril was also expanded with the building of the Grand Lido and Point hotels.

The agricultural sector in the parish also grew with the introduction of non traditional crops such as ginger and pepper.

Infrastructure was improved for vetinary service, as an office and a veterinary clinic which aided farmers in the parish to obtain proper health care for animals were built.

His other major achievements as Member of Parliament for Western Hanover include:

• Major infrastructure development in roads
• New court house
• New market
• Building primary schools
• Improvement at Watson Taylor Park
• Contributed to the development of sports in Hanover which aided Ruseas High School to be known as the top football school in the island
• New playfield for Ruseas High School

Dr. Chang has also served in other positions in the JLP, these include:

• Deputy General Secretary
• Chairman, Area Council Four
• 2002 re-elected Member of Parliament for North West St. James
• 2003 elected Deputy Leader, JLP Area Council Four
• Opposition Spokesman on Housing and Innercity Development

At present, Dr. Chang is Member of Parliament for North West St. James and was named Minister of Water and Housing in September 2007.

Minister Chang enjoys reading, playing dominoes and travelling around the island. He has been married to Paulette for 31 years; they have two children, Melissa and Martin.