BASSETERRE, St. Kitts -- (AP) -- Former premier of St. Kitts and Nevis, Sir Lee
 Llewellyn Moore, has died in New York following a prolonged illness. He was 61.
 Moore died Saturday at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital, Prime Minister Denzil
 Douglas announced.

 Moore, who served as premier in 1979-1980, had been the Caribbean island
 nation's ambassador to the United Nations since 1995.

 ``Sir Lee was a man who strongly believed in the integration of the Caribbean . . .
 in forging paths of development in anticipation of the present global economy and
 challenges,'' Douglas said Saturday.

 Moore reportedly suffered from prostate cancer.