Cabinet of Jamaica
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]
This article is part of a series on the politics and government of Jamaica |
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Executive |
Legislative
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Judiciary |
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The Cabinet of Jamaica is currently composed of The Jamaica Labour Party members because the party won the 2016 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
Ministry or Department | Minister | Ministerial title | Incumbent since |
---|---|---|---|
Office of the Prime Minister | The Most Hon. Andrew Holness, MP | Prime Minister Minister of Defence, Economic Growth and Job Creation | March 7, 2016 |
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade |
Sen. The Hon. Kamina Johnson-Smith | Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade | |
Ministry of Finance and the Public Service | The Hon. Dr. Nigel Clarke, MP | Minister of Finance and the Public Service | March 26, 2018 |
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries | The Hon. Audley Shaw, MP | Minister of Industry, Commerce,Agriculture and Fisheries | March 26, 2018 |
Ministry of National Security | The Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, MP | Minister of National Security | March 26, 2018 |
Ministry of Justice | The Hon. Delroy Chuck, QC, MP | Minister of Justice | March 7, 2016 |
Ministry of Education, Youth and Information | The Hon. Karl Samuda, CD, MP. | Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, with oversight responsibility for Education, Youth and Information | March 25, 2019 |
Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology | The Hon. Fayval Williams, MP | Minister of Science, Energy and Technology | February 14, 2019 |
Ministry of Local Government and Community Development | The Hon. Desmond McKenzie, MP | Minister of Local Government and Community Development | March 7, 2016 |
Ministry of Transport and Mining | The Hon. Robert Montague, MP | Minister of Transport and Mining | March 26, 2018 |
Ministry of Entertainment, Sports, Culture and Gender Affairs | The Hon. Olivia Grange, MP | Ministry of Entertainment, Sports, Culture and Gender Affairs | March 7, 2016 |
Ministry of Tourism | The Hon. Edmund Bartlett, MP | Minister of Tourism | March 7, 2016 |
Ministry of Health | The Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, MP | Minister of Health | March 7, 2016 |
Ministry of Labour and Social Security | The Hon. Shahine Robinson, MP | Minister of Labour and Social Security | March 7, 2016 |
Attorney General Chambers | The Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, QC, MP | Attorney General | March 7, 2016 |
Ministers without Portfolio
Ministry or department | Minister | Ministerial title | Incumbent since |
---|---|---|---|
Office of the Prime Minister | Sen. The Hon. Pearnel Patroe Charles Jr. | Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for Water, Works and Housing | March 25, 2019 |
The Hon. Daryl Vaz, MP | Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for Land, Environment, Climate Change and Investments | March 7, 2016 | |
The Hon. Michael Henry, MP | Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister | March 26, 2018 | |
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries | The Hon. William J.C. Hutchinson, MP | Minister without Portfolio with responsibility for Agriculture | March 7, 2016 |
Ministers of State
Five 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 | Incumbent since |
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Ministry of National Security | The Hon. Rudyard Spencer, MP | Minister of State for National Security | March 26, 2018 |
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries | The Hon. Floyd Green, MP | Minister of State for Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries | February 14, 2019 |
Ministry of Labour and Social Security | The Hon. Zavia Mayne, MP | Minister of State for Labour and Social Security | March 26, 2018 |
Ministry of Education, Youth and Information | The Hon. Alando Terrelonge, MP | Minister of State for Ministry of Education, Youth and Information | February 14, 2019 |
Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Office of the Prime Minister | The Hon. Clifford Everald Warmington, MP | Minister of State for Works | April 13, 2016 |
Parliamentary Secretary
Ministry or department | Minister | Ministerial title | Incumbent since |
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Office of the Prime Minister | Sen.The Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan | Parliamentary Secretary | May, 09 2019 |
See also
References
- "Government of Jamaica - Cabinet Office". Cabinet.gov.jm. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
- http://jis.gov.jm/government/the-opposition/
- "Ja Goes Green - JLP Prosperity Message Trumps Ruling Party - Lead Stories - Jamaica Gleaner - Friday | February 26, 2016". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
- "Cabinet of Jamaica" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2016-03-07.