Cabinet of Jamaica

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Politics of Jamaica
Coat of arms of Jamaica.svg
Executive
Legislative
Elections
Judiciary
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
Flag of Jamaica.svg Jamaica portal
  • Other countries
  • v
  • t

The Cabinet of the Government 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[]

Queen-in-Council[]

The government of Jamaica, formally referred to as Her Majesty's Jamaican Government, is defined by the constitution as the Queen acting on the advice of her Executive Council; what is technically known as the Queen-in-Council, or sometimes the Governor-in-Council, referring to the governor general as the Queen's representative.

As the stipulations of responsible government require that those who directly advise the monarch and governor general on how to exercise the Royal Prerogative be accountable to the elected House of Representatives, the day-to-day operation of government is guided only by a sub-group of the Cabinet made up of individuals who hold seats in parliament. This body of ministers of the Crown is the Cabinet, which has come to be the council in the phrase Queen-in-Council.

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

Each minister of the Crown 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 Department Minister Ministerial title Since
Office of the Prime Minister Andrew Holness, MP Prime Minister
Minister of Defence, Economic Growth and Job Creation
 September 7, 2020
Ministry of National Security Dr. Horace Chang, MP Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of National Security September 7, 2020
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Sen. Kamina Johnson-Smith Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade September 7, 2020
Ministry of Finance and the Public Service Dr. Nigel Clarke, MP Minister of Finance and the Public Service September 7, 2020
Ministry of Health and Wellness Dr. Christopher Tufton, MP Minister of Health and Wellness September 7, 2020
Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Audley Shaw, MP Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce September 13, 2020
Ministry of Justice Delroy Chuck, QC, MP Minister of Justice September 13, 2020
Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Fayval Williams, CD, MP. Minister of Education, Youth and Information September 13, 2020
Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology Daryl Vaz, MP Minister of Science, Energy and Technology September 13, 2020
Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Floyd Green, MP Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries September 13, 2020
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Desmond McKenzie, MP Minister of Local Government and Community Development September 13, 2020
Ministry of Transport and Mining Robert Montague, MP Minister of Transport and Mining September 13, 2020
Ministry of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change Pearnel Patroe Charles Jr. Minister of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment and Climate Change September 13, 2020
Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports Olivia Grange, MP Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports September 13, 2020
Ministry of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, MP Minister of Tourism September 13, 2020
Ministry of Labour and Social Security Karl Samuda, MP Minister of Labour and Social Security September 13, 2020
Attorney General Chambers Marlene Malahoo Forte, QC, MP Attorney General September 13, 2020

Ministers without Portfolio[]

Ministry or department Minister Ministerial title Since
Office of the Prime Minister
 Sen. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for Water September 13, 2020
Everald Warmington, MP Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for Works September 13, 2020
Ministry of National Security Sen. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of National Security September 13, 2020

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 department Minister Ministerial title Since
Ministry of Education, Youth and Information Robert Nesta Morgan, MP Minister of State in the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information September 13, 2020
Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Dr. Norman Alexander Dunn, MP Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce September 13, 2020
Ministry of Labour and Social Security Zavia Mayne, MP Minister of State in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security September 13, 2020
Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports Alando Terrelonge, MP Minister of State in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sports September 13, 2020
Ministry of Transport and Mining William J.C. Hutchinson, MP Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Mining September 13, 2020
Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development Homer Davis, MP Minister of State in the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development September 13, 2020
Ministry of Health and Wellness Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn, MP Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Wellness September 13, 2020
Ministry of Finance and the Public Service Marsha Smith, MP Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service September 13, 2020
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Sen. Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade September 13, 2020

Parliamentary Secretary[]

Ministry or department Minister Ministerial title Since

See also[]

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.
Retrieved from ""