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]

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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 FisheriesThe Hon. Audley Shaw, MPMinister of Industry, Commerce,Agriculture and Fisheries March 26, 2018 Ministry of National SecurityThe Hon. Dr. Horace Chang, MPMinister of National Security March 26, 2018 Ministry of JusticeThe Hon. Delroy Chuck, QC, MPMinister 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 TechnologyThe Hon. Fayval Williams, MPMinister of Science, Energy and Technology February 14, 2019
Ministry of Local Government and Community DevelopmentThe Hon. Desmond McKenzie, MPMinister of Local Government and Community Development March 7, 2016
Ministry of Transport and MiningThe Hon. Robert Montague, MPMinister of Transport and Mining March 26, 2018
Ministry of Entertainment, Sports, Culture and Gender AffairsThe Hon. Olivia Grange, MPMinistry of Entertainment, Sports, Culture and Gender Affairs March 7, 2016
Ministry of TourismThe Hon. Edmund Bartlett, MPMinister of Tourism March 7, 2016
Ministry of HealthThe Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, MPMinister of Health March 7, 2016
Ministry of Labour and Social SecurityThe Hon. Shahine Robinson, MPMinister of Labour and Social Security March 7, 2016
Attorney General ChambersThe Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, QC, MPAttorney GeneralMarch 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 HousingMarch 25, 2019
The Hon. Daryl Vaz, MPMinister 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, MPMinister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister March 26, 2018
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and FisheriesThe Hon. William J.C. Hutchinson, MPMinister 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
Ministry of National SecurityThe Hon. Rudyard Spencer, MPMinister of State for National SecurityMarch 26, 2018
Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and FisheriesThe Hon. Floyd Green, MPMinister of State for Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and FisheriesFebruary 14, 2019
Ministry of Labour and Social SecurityThe Hon. Zavia Mayne, MPMinister of State for Labour and Social SecurityMarch 26, 2018
Ministry of Education, Youth and InformationThe Hon. Alando Terrelonge, MPMinister of State for Ministry of Education, Youth and InformationFebruary 14, 2019
Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Office of the Prime MinisterThe Hon. Clifford Everald Warmington, MPMinister of State for WorksApril 13, 2016

Parliamentary Secretary
Ministry or department Minister Ministerial title Incumbent since
Office of the Prime MinisterSen.The Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan Parliamentary SecretaryMay, 09 2019

See also

References
  1. "Government of Jamaica - Cabinet Office". Cabinet.gov.jm. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
  2. http://jis.gov.jm/government/the-opposition/
  3. "Ja Goes Green - JLP Prosperity Message Trumps Ruling Party - Lead Stories - Jamaica Gleaner - Friday | February 26, 2016". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  4. "Cabinet of Jamaica" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2016-03-07.
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