Cabinet of Jamaica

Last updated

The Cabinet of Jamaica is the ultimate decision-making body of the executive within the Westminster system of government in traditional constitutional theory. The Cabinet of Jamaica is the principal instrument of government policy. It consists of the Prime Minister, and a minimum of thirteen other Ministers of Government, who must be members of one of the two Houses of Parliament. Not more than four members of the Cabinet may be members of the Senate. The Minister of Finance must be an elected member of the House of Representatives. [1] The Shadow Cabinet of Jamaica is seen as the alternative to the Cabinet of Jamaica, led by the Leader of the Opposition (Jamaica), and is charged with fairly criticizing and providing alternative policy to that proposed by the Government. [2]

Contents

The Cabinet of Jamaica is currently composed of The Jamaica Labour Party members because the party won the 2020 General elections. [3]

The following are the members of the Government Cabinet led by Prime Minister Andrew Holness. [4]

Composition

Ministers, Ministers of State, Ministers without Portfolio, and Parliamentary Secretary

Each minister is responsible for the general administration of at least one government portfolio, and heads a corresponding ministry or ministries. The most important minister, following the prime minister, is the Minister of Finance, while other high-profile ministries include foreign affairs, national security, industry and health.

Further, the prime minister may recommend the governor general appoint to Cabinet some ministers of state and ministers without portfolio. Ministers of state often assume one responsibility of a ministry and are not considered as a part of the Cabinet. In the Jamaican press, Ministers of State of often referred to as Junior Ministers. Ministers without portfolio, often working within the Office of the prime minister, assuming one of the prime minister's subsidiary roles (excluding that of Minister of Defence). One exception exists within the current Cabinet.

Ministers of Second Administration

Ministry or DepartmentMinisterMinisterial titleSince
Office of the Prime Minister Andrew Holness, MP Prime Minister
Minister of Defence, Economic Growth and Job Creation (re-incorporates the Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change Portfolio formerly under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal)
January 11, 2022
Ministry of National Security Dr. Horace Chang, MP Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of National SecurityJanuary 11, 2022
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Sen. Kamina Johnson-Smith Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign TradeJanuary 11, 2022
Ministry of Finance and the Public Service Fayval Williams, MP Minister of Finance and the Public Service October 30, 2024
Ministry of Health and WellnessDr. Christopher Tufton, MPMinister of Health and WellnessJanuary 11, 2022
Ministry of Justice Delroy Chuck, KC, MPMinister of JusticeJanuary 11, 2022
Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and InformationDana Dixon, CD, MPMinister of Education, Skills, Youth and InformationOct 30, 2024
Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunication and Transport Daryl Vaz, MPMinister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and TransportMay 22, 2023
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Floyd Green., MPMinister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining2023
Ministry of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie, MPMinister of Local Government and Community DevelopmentJanuary 11, 2022
Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Sen. Aubyn Hill Minister of Industry, Investment and CommerceJanuary 11, 2022
Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports Olivia Grange, MPMinister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and SportsJanuary 11, 2022
Ministry of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, MPMinister of TourismJanuary 11, 2022
Ministry of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles, JR., MPMinister of Labour and Social SecurityJanuary 11, 2022
Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte, KC, MPMinister of Legal and Constitutional AffairsJanuary 11, 2022
Attorney General Department Derrick McKoy Attorney GeneralJanuary 11, 2022

Ministers without Portfolio

Ministry or departmentMinisterMinisterial titleSince
Ministry of Economic Growth & Job Creation Robert Nesta Morgan, MPMinister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth & Job Creation with responsibility for WorksMay 22, 2023
Office of the Prime Minister Homer Davis, MPMinister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister (formerly Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development) assigned to Office of the Prime Minister in Western Jamaica (OPM West) to oversee and coordinate special projects and major developments (eg. Montego Bay Perimeter Road) in western parishes.January 11, 2022
Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation Sen. Matthew Samuda Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for Water, Environment & Climate ChangeJanuary 11, 2022

Ministers of State

Nine ministers of state have been appointed but are not a part of the cabinet although they will help in the operations of their various sectors.

Ministry or departmentMinisterMinisterial titleSince
Ministry of Labour and Social SecurityDr. Norman Alexander Dunn, MPMinister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social SecurityMay 22, 2023
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Alando Terrelonge, MPMinister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign TradeMay 22, 2023
Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Technology William J.C. Hutchinson, MPMinister of State in the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and TechnologyMay 22, 2023
Ministry of National Security Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, MPMinister of State in the Ministry of National SecurityMay 22, 2023
Office of the Prime Minister Homer Davis, MPMinister of State in the Office of the Prime MinisterJanuary 11, 2022
Ministry of Finance and the Public Service Zavia Mayne, MPMinister of State in the Ministry of Finance and Public ServiceMay 22, 2023
Ministry of Agriculture and Fishries Franklyn Witter, MPMinister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and FishriesJanuary 11, 2022

Parliamentary Secretary

Ministry of DepartmentMinisterMinisterial titleSince
Office of the Prime MinisterSen. Abka Fitz-HenleyParliamentary SecretaryMay 21, 2024

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Jamaica</span>

Politics in Jamaica takes place in the framework of a representative parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The 1962 Constitution of Jamaica established a parliamentary system whose political and legal traditions closely follow those of the United Kingdom. As the head of state, King Charles III - on the advice of the Prime Minister of Jamaica - appoints a governor-general as his representative in Jamaica. The governor-general has a largely ceremonial role, with their parliamentary function consisting simply of granting royal assent to bills which have passed Parliament. Jamaica constitutes an independent Commonwealth realm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's National Party</span> Jamaican centre-left political party

The People's National Party (PNP) is a social democratic political party in Jamaica, founded in 1938 by Norman Washington Manley who served as party president until his death in 1969. It holds 14 of the 63 seats in the House of Representatives, as 96 of the 227 local government divisions. The party is democratic socialist by constitution.

The shadow cabinet or shadow ministry is a feature of the Westminster system of government. It consists of a senior group of opposition spokespeople who, under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition, form an alternative cabinet to that of the government, and whose members shadow or mirror the positions of each individual member of the Cabinet. Their areas of responsibility, in parallel with the ruling party's ministries, may be referred to as a shadow portfolio. Members of a shadow cabinet have no executive power. It is the shadow cabinet's responsibility to scrutinise the policies and actions of the government, as well as to offer alternative policies. The shadow cabinet makes up the majority of the Official Opposition frontbench, as part of frontbenchers to the parliament. Smaller opposition parties in Britain and Ireland have Frontbench Teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabinet of Canada</span> Canadian body of ministers of the Crown

The Cabinet of Canada is a body of ministers of the Crown that, along with the Canadian monarch, and within the tenets of the Westminster system, forms the government of Canada. Chaired by the prime minister, the Cabinet is a committee of the King's Privy Council for Canada and the senior echelon of the Ministry, the membership of the Cabinet and Ministry often being co-terminal; as of November 2015 there were no members of the latter who were not also members of the former.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabinet of New Zealand</span> Central decision-making forum of the New Zealand Government

The Cabinet of New Zealand is the New Zealand Government's body of senior ministers, accountable to the New Zealand Parliament. Cabinet meetings, chaired by the prime minister, occur once a week; in them, vital issues are discussed and government policy is formulated. Cabinet is also composed of a number of committees focused on specific areas of governance and policy. Though not established by any statute, Cabinet wields significant power within the New Zealand political system, with nearly all government bills it introduces in Parliament being enacted.

The Jamaica Labour Party is one of the two major political parties in Jamaica, the other being the People's National Party (PNP). While its name might suggest that it is a social democratic party, the JLP is actually a conservative party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabinet of Australia</span> Chief group heading the Australian government

The Cabinet of Australia, also known as the Federal Cabinet, is the chief decision-making body of the Australian government. The Cabinet is selected by the prime minister and is composed of senior government ministers who administer the executive departments and ministries of the federal government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministers in the New Zealand Government</span>

Ministers in the New Zealand Government are members of Parliament (MPs) who hold ministerial warrants from the Crown to perform certain functions of government. This includes formulating and implementing policies and advising the governor-general. Ministers collectively make up the executive branch of the New Zealand state. The governor-general is obliged to follow the advice of the prime minister on the appointment and dismissal of ministers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portia Simpson-Miller</span> Former Prime Minister of Jamaica

Portia Lucretia Simpson-Miller is a Jamaican former politician. She served as Prime Minister of Jamaica from March 2006 to September 2007 and again from 5 January 2012 to 3 March 2016. She was the leader of the People's National Party from 2005 to 2017 and the Leader of the Opposition twice, from 2007 to 2012 and from 2016 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabinet of Thailand</span> Senior decision-making body of the Thai government

The cabinet of Thailand is a body composed of thirty-five of the most senior members of the government of the Kingdom of Thailand. The cabinet is the primary organ of the executive branch of the Thai government. Members of the cabinet are nominated by the prime minister and formally appointed by the King of Thailand. Most members are governmental department heads with the title of "minister of state". The cabinet is chaired by the Prime Minister of Thailand. The cabinet is often collectively called "the government" or "the Royal Thai Government".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Executive Council of Papua New Guinea</span> Executive branch of Papua New Guinea

The National Executive Council (NEC), also known as the Cabinet of Papua New Guinea functions as the policy and decision-making body of the executive branch within the government system of Papua New Guinea. The Prime Minister and Ministers serve as members of the Cabinet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Holness</span> Jamaican politician (born 1972)

Andrew Michael Holness, is a Jamaican politician who has served as Prime Minister of Jamaica since 3 March 2016, having previously served from 2011 to 2012, and as Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) since 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wykeham McNeill</span> Jamaican politician

Kenneth Wykeham McNeill, MD, MP, CD is a Jamaican politician and former member of parliament for Westmoreland West, Jamaica. He is a former government minister. He was the Minister of Tourism of Jamaica from 2012 to 2016. He was elected the first vice chair of the Executive Council of the United Nations World Tourism Organization representing Jamaica in 2012 and elected chairman of the Executive council for the 2014-2015 period. McNeill was elected a Vice President of The People's National Party at the Party's annual conference in September 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cabinet (government)</span> Group of high-ranking officials, usually representing the executive branch of government

A cabinet in governing is a group of people with the constitutional or legal task to rule a country or state, or advise a head of state, usually from the executive branch. Their members are known as ministers and secretaries and they are often appointed by either heads of state or government. Cabinets are typically the body responsible for the day-to-day management of the government and response to sudden events, whereas the legislative and judicial branches work in a measured pace, in sessions according to lengthy procedures.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Phillips (politician)</span> Jamaican politician (born 1949)

Peter Phillips OJ MP is a Jamaican politician who has served as the MP for Saint Andrew East Central since 1993.

In Australian federal politics, the shadow cabinet is the opposition's equivalent to the federal cabinet. It comprises the most senior figures within the opposition, headed by the leader of the opposition as the counterpart to the prime minister of Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Jamaican general election</span> Election in Jamaica

General elections were held in Jamaica on Thursday, 3 September 2020 to elect 63 members of Parliament. As the constitution stipulates a five-year parliamentary term, the next elections were not expected until between 25 February and 10 June 2021. However, Prime Minister Andrew Holness called early elections to ensure a united response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. On the advice of Holness, Governor General Patrick Allen dissolved Parliament on 13 August 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fayval Williams</span> Jamaican politician

Fayval Shirley Williams is a Jamaican politician who is the Minister of Finance and the Public Service and the Member of Parliament for the St Andrew Eastern constituency. Williams has held multiple ministerial positions, including Minister of Education and Youth, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, and Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service. She is the first female to be a minister in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, and also the first female minister of science, energy and technology. In June 2014, Fayval Williams was named as a member of the Jamaica Labour Party's Economic Advisory Council.

Maxine Antoinette Henry-Wilson, CD is a Jamaican educator and politician, representing the People's National Party (PNP). She served as minister of education from 2002 to 2007.

Horace Washington Dalley is a Jamaican educator and politician, representing the People's National Party (PNP). He was Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Clarendon Northern, serving from 1989 to 2007, and again from 2011 to 2020. He served as Minister of Land and Environment from 2001 to 2002, Minister of Labour and Social Security from 2002 to 2006, Minister of Health from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2015 to 2016.

References

  1. "Government of Jamaica - Cabinet Office". Cabinet.gov.jm. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  2. "The Opposition – Jamaica Information Service".
  3. "JGREENLAND - Holness' JLP Sweeps Away PNP 49-14 - Lead Stories - Jamaica Gleaner - Friday | September 4, 2020". Jamaica Gleaner. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  4. "Cabinet of Jamaica" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2016-03-07.