Portia Simpson-Miller
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| The Most Honourable Portia Simpson-Miller |
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Jamaica Leader of the Opposition
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| Assumed office 11 September 2007 |
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| Governor General | Kenneth Hall Patrick Allen |
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| Prime Minister | Bruce Golding |
| Preceded by | Bruce Golding |
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| In office 30 March 2006 – 11 September 2007 |
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| Governor General | Kenneth Hall |
| Preceded by | P. J. Patterson |
| Succeeded by | Bruce Golding |
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| In office 30 March 2006 – 11 September 2007 |
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| Prime Minister | herself |
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Member of Parliament
for South West Saint Andrew |
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| Assumed office 1976 |
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| In office October 2002 – 30 March 2006 |
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| Prime Minister | P. J. Patterson |
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| In office 21 February 2000 – October 2002 |
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| Prime Minister | P. J. Patterson |
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| In office 1995 – 20 February 2002 |
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| Prime Minister | P. J. Patterson |
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| In office 1993 – 1995 |
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| Prime Minister | P. J. Patterson |
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| In office 1989 – 1993 |
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| Prime Minister | P. J. Patterson |
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| Born | 12 December 1945 Wood Hall, St. Catherine, Jamaica |
| Nationality |  Jamaica |
| Political party | People's National Party |
| Spouse(s) | Errald Miller |
Portia Lucretia Simpson-Miller, ON, MP (born 12 December 1945 in Wood Hall, St. Catherine Parish) is Jamaica's Leader of the Opposition and was the country's Prime Minister from 30 March 2006 to 11 September 2007. She was Jamaica's first female Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Portia Lucretia Simpson-Miller is also a member of the Council of Women World Leaders, an International network of current and former women presidents and prime ministers whose mission is to mobilize the highest-level women leaders globally for collective action on issues of critical importance to women and equitable development.
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[edit] Political career
She replaced outgoing Prime Minister P. J. Patterson, becoming the first female head of government of the nation[1] and the third in the Anglophone Caribbean following Eugenia Charles of Dominica and Janet Jagan of Guyana. She also holds the position of president of the opposition People's National Party.
In the PNP's internal vote to elect Patterson's successor, held on 26 February 2006, she received 1,775 votes, while her nearest rival, national security minister Dr. Peter Phillips, took 1,538 votes (see [1]). She was only able to garner approximately 47% of the delegates' vote, making her the first PNP president to be elected by less than half of eligible delegates.
Simpson-Miller had been the Minister of Local Government and Sport since October 2002. She previously served as Minister of Labour, Welfare and Sports from 1989 to 1993, when she re-entered parliament for South West St. Andrew, the PNP having boycotted the elections called in 1983; she was first elected, for that constituency, in 1976. She was Minister of Labour and Welfare from 1993 to 1995, Minister of Labour, Social Security and Sports from 1995 to February 2000, and Minister of Tourism and Sports from February 2000 to October 2002. Her ministerial portfolios have been characterised by allegations of mismanagement and corruption. This came to the fore during the very bitter presidential campaign. She was a Vice President of the PNP from 1978 to 2006. In appointing her first cabinet following her swearing-in, she also assumed the portfolio of defence minister.
In July 2008,Simpson-Miller had been challenged for the Presidency of the People's National Party by her former rival , Dr.Peter Phillips. The election was held among the party's delegates on September 20. She has been re-elected as the head of the PNP for her second consecutive year, defeating Phillips by an even wider margin that that of the previous election.
Simpson-Miller holds a Bachelor of Arts in public administration from the Union Institute, a private college specializing in distance learning programs. She has since been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the Union Institute.
[edit] 2007 Elections
On September 3, 2007 her party narrowly lost the 2007 general election retaining 27 seats against the rival Jamaican Labour Party's 33 seats. This margin was revised to 32-28 after recounts. This margin might still be revised pending an election petition decision concerning the eligibility of a government MP who has dual citizenship.
Simpson-Millers loss can in part be attributed to well planned and executed campaign by the JLP. Apart of The JLP’s campaign strategy was a media blitz that claimed to highlight 18 years of neglect under the PNP and the incompetence of Simpson-Miller as a leader.
One ad highlighted the deplorable conditions in Mrs. Simpson-Miller’s own constituency of South St. Andrew [2], while others were created from controversial interviews [3] and still others discussed issues surrounding her competence as a leader.[4]
Simpson-Miller initially refused to concede defeat alleging voting irregularities and the possibility that recounts would change the final result. The Organization of American States issued a statement declaring the election free and fair. "I believe this election can stand international scrutiny," said OAS assistant secretary-general Albert Ramdin who led a team of international observers who monitored the election.[2] She conceded defeat on September 5.[3] On September 11, Simpson Miller was succeeded as Prime Minister by JLP leader Bruce Golding.[5]
[edit] Personal life
Simpson-Miller is married to The Most Honourable Errald Miller, formerly CEO of Cable & Wireless Jamaica Ltd.
On 29 May 2006 she was invested with the Jamaican Order of the Nation, giving her (and her husband) the style "The Most Honourable".[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Jamaica's First Female Prime Minister , retrieved on May 28th 2007.
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7u9GC303j9Q&feature=related
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jegKPdHE3sg&feature=related
- ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SacTRnynF4M&feature=related
- ^ Edmond Campbell, "Bruce takes charge - Golding sworn in as Jamaica's eighth Prime Minister", Jamaica Gleaner, September 12, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Official profile
- Extended profile
- Profile from the Jamaica Gleaner
- "It's Portia", 26 February 2006, Jamaica Observer.
- "PNP's First Female President", 26 February 2006, The Gleaner
- [5]
| Preceded by P.J. Patterson |
Prime Minister of Jamaica 2006 to 2007 |
Succeeded by Bruce Golding |
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