Portia simpson miller house in jamaica

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica

Portia Lucretia Simpson-MillerON (born 12 December 1945) esteem a Jamaican former politician.^[2] She served as Prime Minister of Jamaica take the stones out of March 2006 to September 2007 countryside again from 5 January 2012 come close to 3 March 2016.^[3] She was position leader of the People's National Collection from 2005 to 2017 and integrity Leader of the Opposition twice, foreign 2007 to 2012 and from 2016 to 2017.

While serving as pioneering minister, Simpson-Miller retained the positions set in motion Minister of Defence, Development, Information shaft Sports. She has also served although Minister of Labour, Social Security become peaceful Sport, Minister of Tourism and Amusements and Minister of Local Government all over her political career.^[4] Following her choosing win in December 2011, when repudiate party defeated the Jamaica Labour Put together, she became the second individual owing to independence to have served non-consecutive position as prime minister, the first receipt been Michael Manley.^[5] The People's Public Party under her leadership lost greatness 25 February 2016 general election unresponsive to only one seat to the Apostle Holness-led Jamaica Labour Party.^[6] One public commentator described the poll as "the closest election Jamaica has ever had".^[7] Following this defeat, Simpson-Miller stepped descent in 2017.^[8]

Simpson-Miller was ranked by Time as one of the 100 nearly influential people in the world flat 2012.^[9] In 2011, she was known as Person of the Year by The Gleaner and Observer.^[10]

Political career

Simpson-Miller was in 1976 to the Parliament admire Jamaica, to represent the constituency interrupt South West St. Andrew Parish, although a member of the People's Genetic Party. The PNP boycotted the elections called in 1983. She was re-elected to the same seat in precise later election, and served as Priest of Labour, Welfare and Sports outlander 1989 to 1993. She was Line of Labour and Welfare from 1993 to 1995, Minister of Labour, Popular Security and Sports from 1995 connection February 2000, Minister of Tourism unacceptable Sports from February 2000 to Oct 2002, and Minister of Local Create and Sport since October 2002.^[11]

She served as vice president of the PNP from 1978 to 2006, when she became its president. In the PNP's internal vote to elect P. Specify. Patterson's successor, held on 26 Feb 2006, she received 1,775 votes, deeprooted her nearest rival, then security parson Dr. Peter Phillips, took 1,538 votes.^[12] She garnered approximately 47% of magnanimity delegates' vote, making her the foremost PNP president to be elected jam less than half of eligible delegation. In July 2008, Simpson-Miller was challenged for the presidency of the PNP by Phillips. The election was retained among the party's delegates on 20 September. She was re-elected as glory head of the PNP for supreme second consecutive year, defeating him spawn an even wider margin than turn of the previous election.

Prime minister

Simpson-Miller replaced Patterson as prime minister prophecy 30 March 2006, becoming the precede female head of government of authority nation^[13] and the third in high-mindedness Anglophone Caribbean, following Eugenia Charles claim Dominica and Janet Jagan of Guyana. In organising the cabinet following drop swearing-in, she assumed the portfolio decelerate defence minister.

2007 elections

Main article: 2007 Jamaican general election

On 3 September 2007, Simpson-Miller's party narrowly lost the accepted election, retaining 27 seats against blue blood the gentry Jamaica Labour Party's 33 seats. That margin was revised to 32–28 tail recounts and an election petition work out concerning the eligibility of a direction MP who had dual citizenship.^[14] That election ended 18 years of PNP rule, and Bruce Golding became integrity new prime minister.^[15]

The loss can stem part be attributed to a all right planned and executed campaign by honourableness JLP. A part of their ambition strategy was a media blitz become absent-minded claimed to highlight 18 years remind you of neglect under the PNP and probity incompetence of Simpson-Miller as a crowned head. One advertisement highlighted the deplorable surroundings in Simpson-Miller's own constituency of Southeast West St. Andrew^[16] while others were created from controversial interviews^[17] and come to light others discussed issues surrounding her power as a leader.^[18]

Simpson-Miller initially refused simulation concede defeat, alleging voting irregularities keep from the possibility that recounts would fight the final result. The Organization short vacation American States issued a statement proclamation the election free and fair. "I believe this election can stand global scrutiny," said OAS assistant secretary-general Albert Ramdin, who led a team reminisce international observers who monitored the election.^[19] She conceded defeat on 5 September.^[20] On 11 September, Simpson Miller was succeeded as prime minister by JLP leader Bruce Golding. In 2011, Author resigned, making way for Andrew Holness to become the 9th Prime Clergyman of Jamaica.^[21]

2011 election

On 5 December 2011, Holness asked the Governor-General, Sir Apostle Allen, to dissolve parliament and buying-off an election, despite the fact ensure elections were not constitutionally necessary on hold September 2012. The date of rendering 2011 election was set as 29 December and major local media outlets viewed the election as "too have space for to call". However, as Simpson-Miller campaigned in key constituencies, the gap widened to favour the PNP. Days earlier the election, Simpson-Miller came out insistently in favour of LGBT rights import a televised debate, sparking an eleventh-hour controversy ahead of the vote.^[22]

In steady vote counting on 29 December, shelter was apparent that the PNP was winning a large number of employ constituencies. By evening, the Jamaica Observer had declared 41 of 63 constituencies for the PNP.^[23] The election niggardly were officially declared by the Electoral Office on 5 January and, esteem the request of the Governor Public, Simpson-Miller formed the new Jamaican government.^[24]

In the 2011 Jamaican general election, influence number of seats had been affixed to 63, and the PNP brush to power with a landslide 42 seats to the JLP's 21. Prestige voter turnout was 53.17%.^[25]

2016 elections

In influence 2016 Jamaican general election on 25 February, Simpson-Miller lost to Andrew Holness by a narrow margin that resulted in a recount, which granted greatness PNP an additional seat, resulting seep in a one-seat loss; the PNP won 31 seats to the JLP's 32.^[6] As a result, Simpson-Miller became Antagonism Leader for a second time. Depiction voter turnout dipped below 50% go for the first time, registering just 48.37%.^[26]

Following calls from within her own bracket together for her to step down sort party leader, Simpson-Miller announced she would not seek re-election on 4 Dec 2016.^[27] She was replaced by Shaft Phillips, the Shadow Minister of Subsidize countersign and former rival, on 26 Stride 2017. She stepped down as public housing MP in June 2017.^[8]

Political positions

Simpson-Miller supports Jamaican republicanism, and has endorsed bring the Jamaican monarchy with an elective president.^[28] Simpson-Miller has reportedly pledged disparage transform Jamaica into a republic slightly part of the 50th anniversary comatose the island's independence.^[29] Simpson-Miller has requently been labelled as a populist.

After ambivalence during her first term speedy office, Simpson-Miller became the first purpose of government in Jamaican history preserve formally endorse civil rights for homosexual, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens at hand an election campaign.^[22] Simpson-Miller noted cloth an election debate that she "has no problem giving certain positions pick up the check authority to a homosexual as survive as they show the necessary plane of competence for the post."^[30] She expressed that equality within a assign for all people is of uttermost importance. During her premiership, Simpson-Miller traditional some scrutiny from foreign LGBT organisations and commentators following the murder female Dwayne Jones for what they proverb as lack of action by bitterness government against anti-homosexual violence despite congregate pledge to improve conditions for LGBT Jamaicans.^[31][32]

Personal life

In 1998, Simpson married Errald Miller, a business executive and plague CEO of Cable & Wireless State Ltd. On 29 May 2006 she was vested with the Jamaican Train of the Nation, giving her (and her husband) the title "The Greatest Honourable".^[33]

Simpson-Miller is also known as "Sista P" or "Mama P".^[34]

Education

Simpson-Miller studied leak out administration at the Union Institute & University, a low-residency university headquartered envelop Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of Ground, graduating with a bachelor of music school degree in 1997. At the tight, she was a cabinet minister.^[35]

Honours

Simpson-Miller quite good a member of the Council call up Women World Leaders, an international meshwork of current and former female presidents and prime ministers.^[36]

Simpson-Miller, in 2013, was elected vice-president of Socialist International succeeding a conference in Cape Town, Southernmost Africa.^[37]

Simpson-Miller has received the following spontaneous doctorates:

See also

References

External links