The prime minister of Jamaica (Jamaican Patois: prime minista a jamaica) is Jamaica's head of government, currently Andrew Holness. Holness, as leader of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), was sworn in as prime minister on 7 September 2020, having been re-elected as a result of the JLP's landslide victory in the 2020 Jamaican general election.[2]

Prime Minister of Jamaica
Emblem of the Prime Minister of Jamaica
Standard of the Prime Minister of Jamaica
since 3 March 2016
StyleThe Most Honourable
Member ofCabinet
Reports toThe Governor General Of Jamaica
ResidenceVale Royal (Jamaica)
SeatDusit District, Kingston
AppointerGovernor-General
Term length5 years
Renewable
Formation6 August 1962 Jamaica
Unofficial names‘Anju’
DeputyDeputy Prime Minister
SalaryJ$9,160,000 annually[1]
Websitewww.opm.jm

The prime minister is formally appointed into office by the governor general, who represents King Charles III.

Official residence and office

edit
 
Front Lawns of Vale Royal

The prime minister of Jamaica's official residence is Vale Royal. The property was constructed in 1694 by the planter Sir William Taylor, who was one of the richest men in Jamaica at the time. In 1928 the property was sold to the government and became the official residence of the British colonial secretary (then Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs). Vale Royal has subsequently become the official residence of the prime minister.[3] Vale Royal is not open to the public.

Jamaica House has been the location of the Office of the Prime Minister since 1972.[4] Prime ministers resided there from 1964 until 1980.[4] On 8 November 2022, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said in question time that his official residence was Jamaica House rather than Vale Royal, and that that Vale Royal was currently in disrepair and possible future uses would be considered after its restoration.[5]

Chief ministers of Jamaica (1953–1959)

edit
No. Portrait Chief Minister
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Election
Took office Left office Time in office
1Sir Alexander Bustamante
(1884–1977)
5 May 19532 February 19551 year, 273 daysJLP
2Norman Manley
(1893–1969)
2 February 195514 August 19594 years, 193 daysPNP1955

Premiers of Jamaica (1959–1962)

edit
No. Portrait Premier
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Election
Took office Left office Time in office
1Norman Manley
(1893–1969)
14 August 195929 April 19622 years, 258 daysPNP1959
2Sir Alexander Bustamante
(1884–1977)
29 April 19626 August 196299 daysJLP1962

Prime ministers of Jamaica (1962–present)

edit

Key: Died in office

No. Portrait Prime Minister
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Election
Took office Left office Time in office
1Sir Alexander Bustamante
(1884–1977)
6 August 196223 February 19674 years, 201 daysJLP1962
2Sir Donald Sangster
(1911–1967)
23 February 196711 April 1967 †47 daysJLP1967
3Hugh Shearer
(1923–2004)
11 April 19672 March 19724 years, 326 daysJLP
4Michael Manley
(1924–1997)
2 March 19721 November 19808 years, 244 daysPNP1972
1976
5Edward Seaga
(1930–2019)
1 November 198010 February 19898 years, 101 daysJLP1980
1983
6Michael Manley
(1924–1997)
10 February 198930 March 19923 years, 49 daysPNP1989
7P. J. Patterson
(born 1935)
30 March 199230 March 200614 years, 0 daysPNP1993
1997
2002
8Portia Simpson-Miller
(born 1945)
30 March 200611 September 20071 year, 165 daysPNP
9Bruce Golding
(born 1947)
11 September 200723 October 20114 years, 42 daysJLP2007
10Andrew Holness
(born 1972)
23 October 20115 January 201274 daysJLP
11Portia Simpson-Miller
(born 1945)
5 January 20123 March 20164 years, 58 daysPNP2011
12Andrew Holness
(born 1972)
3 March 2016Incumbent8 years, 272 daysJLP2016
2020

Timeline

edit
Andrew HolnessBruce GoldingPortia Simpson-MillerP. J. PattersonEdward SeagaMichael ManleyHugh ShearerDonald SangsterNorman ManleyAlexander Bustamante


By tenure

edit
Rank by
length
of terms
Prime Minister Took office Left office Length by
time served
Administrations Elected Political affiliation
1 P. J. Patterson 30 March 1992 30 March 2006 14 years 1 1993
1997
2002
People's National Party
2 Michael Manley 2 March 1972
10 February 1989
1 November 1980
30 March 1992
11 years, 292 days
(8 years, 244 days;
3 years, 48 days)
2 1972
1976
1989
People's National Party
3 Andrew Holness
(incumbent)
23 October 2011
3 March 2016
5 January 2012
present
8 years, 346 days
(74 days;
8 years, 272 days)
2 2016
2020
Jamaica Labour Party
4 Edward Seaga 1 November 1980 10 February 1989 8 years, 101 days 1 1980
1983
Jamaica Labour Party
5 Portia Simpson Miller 30 March 2006
5 January 2012
11 September 2007
3 March 2016
5 years, 223 days
(1 year, 165 days;
4 years, 58 days)
2 2011 People's National Party
6 Hugh Shearer 11 April 1967 2 March 1972 4 years, 326 days 1 Jamaica Labour Party
7 Alexander Bustamante 29 April 1962 23 February 1967 4 years, 201 days 1 1962 Jamaica Labour Party
8 Bruce Golding 11 September 2007 23 October 2011 4 years, 42 days 1 2007 Jamaica Labour Party
9 Donald Sangster 23 February 1967 11 April 1967 47 days 1 1967 Jamaica Labour Party

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Earnings By Politicians And What They Take Home". rjrnewsonline.com.
  2. ^ JLP Wins Second Term. 3 September 2020. Accessed 5 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Vale Royal – Office of the Prime Minister".
  4. ^ a b "Jamaica House". Office of the Prime Minister. A Brief History, In Residence, Offices. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  5. ^ Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica [@pbcjamaica] (8 November 2022). "Questions to the Prime Minister" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
edit