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Prime Minister of Jamaica
Flag of the Prime Minister of Jamaica.svg
Standard of the prime minister of Jamaica
Coat of arms of Jamaica.svg
Andrew Holness Press (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
Andrew Holness

since 3 March 2016
Style The Most Honourable
Member of Cabinet
Residence Vale Royal (Jamaica)
Appointer Governor-General
Term length no term limits
5 years
Formation 6 August 1962 Jamaica
Deputy Deputy Prime Minister
Salary J$9,160,000 annually
Website www.opm.jm


The prime minister of Jamaica (Jamaican Patois: Praim Minista a Jumieka) 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.

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

Official residence and office

Valeroyal
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. Vale Royal is not open to the public.

Jamaica House has been the location of the Office of the Prime Minister since 1972. Prime ministers resided there from 1964 until 1980. 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.

Chief ministers of Jamaica (1953–1959)

No. Portrait Chief Minister
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Election
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Sir Alexander Bustamante
Sir Alexander Bustamante
(1884–1977)
5 May 1953 2 February 1955 1 year, 273 days JLP
2
Norman Manley
Norman Manley
(1893–1969)
2 February 1955 14 August 1959 4 years, 193 days PNP 1955

Premiers of Jamaica (1959–1962)

No. Portrait Premier
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Election
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Norman Manley
Norman Manley
(1893–1969)
14 August 1959 29 April 1962 2 years, 258 days PNP 1959
2
Sir Alexander Bustamante
Sir Alexander Bustamante
(1884–1977)
29 April 1962 6 August 1962 99 days JLP 1962

Prime ministers of Jamaica (1962–present)

Key: Died in office

No. Portrait Prime Minister
(Birth–Death)
Term of office Political party Election
Took office Left office Time in office
1
Sir Alexander Bustamante
Sir Alexander Bustamante
(1884–1977)
6 August 1962 23 February 1967 4 years, 201 days JLP 1962
2
Sir Donald Sangster
Sir Donald Sangster
(1911–1967)
23 February 1967 11 April 1967 † 47 days JLP 1967
3
Hugh Shearer
Hugh Shearer
(1923–2004)
11 April 1967 2 March 1972 4 years, 326 days JLP
4
Michael Manley
Michael Manley
(1924–1997)
2 March 1972 1 November 1980 8 years, 244 days PNP 1972
1976
5
Edward Seaga
Edward Seaga
(1930–2019)
1 November 1980 10 February 1989 8 years, 101 days JLP 1980
1983
6
Michael Manley
Michael Manley
(1924–1997)
10 February 1989 30 March 1992 3 years, 49 days PNP 1989
7
P. J. Patterson
P. J. Patterson
(born 1935)
30 March 1992 30 March 2006 14 years, 0 days PNP 1993
1997
2002
8
Portia Simpson-Miller
Portia Simpson-Miller
(born 1945)
30 March 2006 11 September 2007 1 year, 165 days PNP
9
Bruce Golding
Bruce Golding
(born 1947)
11 September 2007 23 October 2011 4 years, 42 days JLP 2007
10
Andrew Holness
Andrew Holness
(born 1972)
23 October 2011 5 January 2012 74 days JLP
11
Portia Simpson-Miller
Portia Simpson-Miller
(born 1945)
5 January 2012 3 March 2016 4 years, 58 days PNP 2011
12
Andrew Holness
Andrew Holness
(born 1972)
3 March 2016 Incumbent 8 years, 57 days JLP 2016
2020

By tenure

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 Edward Seaga 1 November 1980 10 February 1989 8 years, 101 days 1 1980
1983
Jamaica Labour Party
4 Andrew Holness
(incumbent)
23 October 2011
3 March 2016
5 January 2012
present
8 years, 131 days
(74 days;
8 years, 57 days)
2 2016
2020
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

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