SafekipediaPrime Minister of Jamaica
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
The prime minister of Jamaica is the head of government of the country. The current prime minister is Andrew Holness, who leads the Jamaica Labour Party. He became prime minister after his party won an election.
The prime minister is chosen by the governor-general, who represents King Charles III. The prime minister helps run the country and makes important decisions for the people of Jamaica.
Official residence and office
The prime minister of Jamaica has an official home called Vale Royal. This special house was built a long time ago in 1694 by a rich man named Sir William Taylor. In 1928, the government bought it, and it became important for leaders of the country. Now, Vale Royal is where the prime minister lives, but it is not open for visits.
There is also a place called Jamaica House where the prime minister works. This has been the office for the prime minister since 1972. Before that, prime ministers lived there too, from 1964 until 1980. In 2022, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said that for now, his home is Jamaica House because Vale Royal needs fixing up.
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 (1884–1977) | 5 May 1953 | 2 February 1955 | 1 year, 273 days | JLP | — | |
| 2 | Norman Manley (1893–1969) | 2 February 1955 | 14 August 1959 | 4 years, 193 days | PNP | 1955 | |
Premiers of Jamaica (1959–1962)
The leaders of Jamaica from 1959 to 1962 were called Premiers. This was before Jamaica became fully independent and had a Prime Minister.
During these years, the Premiers helped guide Jamaica as it prepared to become its own country. The list of these leaders is shown in the table below.
| No. | Portrait | Premier (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Political party | Election | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
| 1 | Norman Manley (1893–1969) | 14 August 1959 | 29 April 1962 | 2 years, 258 days | PNP | 1959 | |
| 2 | Sir Alexander Bustamante (1884–1977) | 29 April 1962 | 6 August 1962 | 99 days | JLP | 1962 | |
Prime ministers of Jamaica (1962–present)
The list shows the leaders of Jamaica since it became independent in 1962. Each leader served during different years. The current leader is Andrew Holness, who began his term in 2025 after winning an election.
| No. | Portrait | Prime Minister (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Political party | Election | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
| 1 | Sir Alexander Bustamante (1884–1977) | 6 August 1962 | 23 February 1967 | 4 years, 201 days | JLP | – | |
| 2 | Sir Donald Sangster (1911–1967) | 23 February 1967 | 11 April 1967 † | 47 days | JLP | 1967 | |
| 3 | Hugh Shearer (1923–2004) | 11 April 1967 | 2 March 1972 | 4 years, 326 days | JLP | — | |
| 4 | Michael Manley (1924–1997) | 2 March 1972 | 1 November 1980 | 8 years, 244 days | PNP | 1972 1976 | |
| 5 | Edward Seaga (1930–2019) | 1 November 1980 | 10 February 1989 | 8 years, 101 days | JLP | 1980 1983 | |
| (4) | Michael Manley (1924–1997) | 10 February 1989 | 30 March 1992 | 3 years, 49 days | PNP | 1989 | |
| 6 | P. J. Patterson (born 1935) | 30 March 1992 | 30 March 2006 | 14 years, 0 days | PNP | 1993 1997 2002 | |
| 7 | Portia Simpson-Miller (born 1945) | 30 March 2006 | 11 September 2007 | 1 year, 165 days | PNP | — | |
| 8 | Bruce Golding (born 1947) | 11 September 2007 | 23 October 2011 | 4 years, 42 days | JLP | 2007 | |
| 9 | Andrew Holness (born 1972) | 23 October 2011 | 5 January 2012 | 74 days | JLP | — | |
| (7) | Portia Simpson-Miller (born 1945) | 5 January 2012 | 3 March 2016 | 4 years, 58 days | PNP | 2011 | |
| (9) | Andrew Holness (born 1972) | 3 March 2016 | Incumbent | 10 years, 74 days | JLP | 2016 2020 2025 | |
Timeline
The Prime Minister of Jamaica is the head of the government. Right now, the Prime Minister is Andrew Holness. He is part of the Jamaica Labour Party. He became Prime Minister on September 16, 2025, after his party won that year's election.
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 | Andrew Holness (incumbent) | 23 October 2011 3 March 2016 | 5 January 2012 present | 10 years, 147 days (74 days; 10 years, 74 days) | 2 | 2016 2020 2025 | Jamaica Labour Party |
| 4 | Edward Seaga | 1 November 1980 | 10 February 1989 | 8 years, 101 days | 1 | 1980 1983 | 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 |
By education
Related articles
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Prime Minister of Jamaica, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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