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]
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
editMinisters, Ministers of State, Ministers without Portfolio, and Parliamentary Secretary
editEach 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
edit| Ministry or Department | Minister | Ministerial title | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 Security | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade | Sen. Kamina Johnson-Smith | Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade | January 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 Wellness | Dr. Christopher Tufton, MP | Minister of Health and Wellness | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Justice | Delroy Chuck, KC, MP | Minister of Justice | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Education and Youth | Dana Dixon, CD, MP | Minister of Education and Youth | 2024 |
| Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology | Daryl Vaz, MP | Minister of Science, Energy and Telecommunications and Transport | 2023 |
| Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries | Floyd Green., MP | Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Mining | 2023 |
| Ministry of Local Government and Community Development | Desmond McKenzie, MP | Minister of Local Government and Community Development | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce | Sen. Aubyn Hill | Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports | Olivia Grange, MP | Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Tourism | Edmund Bartlett, MP | Minister of Tourism | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Labour and Social Security | Pearnel Charles, JR., MP | Minister of Labour and Social Security | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs | Marlene Malahoo Forte, KC, MP | Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs | January 11, 2022 |
| Attorney General Department | Derrick McKoy | Attorney General | January 11, 2022 |
Ministers without Portfolio
edit| Ministry or department | Minister | Ministerial title | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office of the Prime Minister |
[(Jamaican politician)]], MP | Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister | J2023 |
| Robert Nesta Morgan, MP | Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Information | January 11, 2022 | |
| Office of the Prime Minister | Homer Davis, MP | Minister 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 Change | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation | Everald Warmington, MP | Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for Works | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation | Robert Montague, MP | Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation | January 11, 2022 |
Ministers of State
editNine 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 department | Minister | Ministerial title | Since |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce | Dr. Norman Alexander Dunn, MP | Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports | Alando Terrelonge, MP | Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Transport and Mining | William J.C. Hutchinson, MP | Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Mining | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Health and Wellness | Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, MP | Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Finance and the Public Service | Marsha Smith, MP | Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade | Sen. Leslie Campbell | Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of National Security | Zavia Mayne, MP | Minister of State in the Ministry of National Security | January 11, 2022 |
| Ministry of Agriculture and Fishries | Franklyn Witter, MP | Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fishries | January 11, 2022 |
Parliamentary Secretary
edit| Ministry or department | Minister | Ministerial title | Since |
|---|
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Government of Jamaica - Cabinet Office". Cabinet.gov.jm. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
- ^ "The Opposition – Jamaica Information Service".
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Cabinet of Jamaica" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2016-03-07.