Parliament of Jamaica

Parliament of Jamaica
Coat of arms or logo
Type
Type
Leadership
Hon. Pearnel Charles, Sr., JLP
Since 10 March 2016
Deputy Speaker
Mr. Franklyn Witter, JLP
Since 10 March 2016
Structure
Seats 84
Senate political groups
House of Representatives political groups
Elections
Appointed by Governor-General on advice of the Prime Minister (13) and Leader of the Opposition (8)
House of Representatives voting system
 First-past-the-post
Senate last election
 25 February 2016
Meeting place
George William Gordon House, Kingston, Jamaica
Website
http://www.japarliament.gov.jm/
Jamaica
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
Jamaica

The Parliament of Jamaica is the legislative branch of the government of Jamaica. It is a bicameral body, composed of an appointed Senate and an elected House of Representatives.

The Senate (Upper House) – the direct successor of a pre-Independence body known as the "Legislative Council" – comprises 21 senators appointed by the governor-general: thirteen on the advice of the Prime Minister and eight on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition.

The House of Representatives, the Lower House, is made up of 63 (previously 60) Members of Parliament, elected to five-year terms on a first-past-the-post basis in single-seat constituencies.

The Parliament meets at Gordon House at 81 Duke Street, Kingston.[1] It was built in 1960 and named in memory of Jamaican patriot George William Gordon.[2]

Inside the Parliament of Jamaica

Overview

As Jamaica is a Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy, most of the government's ability to make and pass laws is dependent on Prime Ministers to command the confidence of the members of the House of Representatives. Though both Houses of Parliament hold Political significance, the House of Representatives of which the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition are both required to be members of holds a more Powerful and Prestigious role since it is the main source of Legislation.

House of Representatives

The House of Representatives is the Lower House. It is the group of elected members of parliament.

Government - Jamaica Labour Party members

Opposition- People's National Party members

  • Opposition Leader Dr. Peter Phillips, St. Andrew East Central
  • Mr. Phillip Paulwell, Kingston East and Port Royal - Leader of Opposition Business
  • Mr. Mark Golding, St. Andrew South
  • Dr. Wykeham McNeill, Westmoreland Western
  • Mr. Noel Arscott, Clarendon South Western
  • Mr. Luther Buchanan, Westmoreland Eastern
  • Mr. Peter Bunting, Manchester Central
  • Mr. Dwayne Vaz, Westmoreland Central
  • Dr. Angela Brown-Burke, St. Andrew South West
  • Mr. Colin Fagan, St. Catherine South Eastern
  • Dr. Fenton Ferguson, St. Thomas Eastern
  • Dr. Morais Guy, St. Mary Central
  • Ms. Lisa Hanna, St. Ann South Eastern
  • Mr. Victor Wright Trelawny Northern
  • Mr. Ian Hayles, Hanover Western
  • Ms. Denise Daley, St. Catherine Eastern
  • Mr. Julian Robinson, St. Andrew South Eastern
  • Mr. G. Anthony Hylton, St. Andrew Western
  • Mr. Fitz Jackson, St. Catherine Southern
  • Mr. Derrick Kellier, St. James Southern
  • Ms. Natalie Neita, St. Catherine North Central
  • Mr. Mikael Phillips, Manchester North Western
  • Mr. Michael Stewart, Manchester Southern
  • Mr. Robert Pickersgill, St. Catherine North Western
  • Dr. Lynvale Bloomfield, Portland Eastern
  • Mr. Evon Redman, St. Elizabeth North Eastern
  • Rev. Ronald Thwaites, Kingston Central
  • Mr. Richard Azan, Clarendon North Western
  • Mr. Horace Dalley, Clarendon Northern
  • Dr. Dayton Campbell, St. Ann North Western

Senate

The Senate is the Upper House. This is the list of senators:

Government Senators

  1. Senator The Hon. Tom Tavares-Finson, QC – President
  2. Senator Aubyn Hill - Deputy President
  3. Senator The Hon. Kamina Johnson-Smith - Leader of Government Business
  4. Senator The Hon. Ruel Reid - Education and Information
  5. Senator The Hon. Pearnel Patroe Charles Jr.
  6. Senator Kavan Gayle
  7. Senator Ransford Braham, QC
  8. Senator Don Wehby
  9. Senator Charles Sinclair, Jr.
  10. Senator Matthew Samuda
  11. Senator Delroy Williams
  12. Senator Kerensia Morrison
  13. Senator Dr. Sapphire Longmore-Dropinski

Opposition Senators

  1. Senator Donna Scott-Mottley - Leader of Opposition Business
  2. Senator Keith D. Knight, QC
  3. Senator Damion Crawford
  4. Senator Floyd Morris
  5. Senator Sophia Frazer-Binns
  6. Senator Lambert Brown
  7. Senator Wentsworth Skeffery
  8. Senator Noel Sloley

Current composition

Party Votes % Seats +/–
Jamaica Labour Party437,17849.533+12
People's National Party433,62949.130–12
Marcus Garvey People's Progressive Party2600.0300
National Democratic Movement2230.0300
People's Progressive Party910.010New
Independents A2120.0100
Independents B1,0210.1300
Invalid/Rejected Ballots9,875–––
Total882,489100630
Registered voters/turnout1,824,41248.37%––
Source: Electoral Commission (100% of vote counted)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Contact Us". Japarliament.gov.jm. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
  2. ↑ "History". Japarliament.gov.jm. Retrieved 2016-01-03.
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