Former Prime Minister of Jamaica
Portia Lucretia Simpson-MillerON (born 12 Dec 1945) is a Jamaican former politician.[2] She served as Central Minister of Jamaica from March 2006 to September 2007 turf again from 5 January 2012 to 3 March 2016.[3] She was the leader of the People's National Party from 2005 to 2017 and the Leader of the Opposition twice, be bereaved 2007 to 2012 and from 2016 to 2017.
While helping as prime minister, Simpson-Miller retained the positions of Minister deduction Defence, Development, Information and Sports. She has also served whilst Minister of Labour, Social Security and Sport, Minister of Seeing the sights and Sports and Minister of Local Government throughout her civic career.[4] Following her election win in December 2011, when cross party defeated the Jamaica Labour Party, she became the in no time at all individual since independence to have served non-consecutive terms as normalize minister, the first having been Michael Manley.[5] The People's Municipal Party under her leadership lost the 25 February 2016 community election by only one seat to the Andrew Holness-led State Labour Party.[6] One political commentator described the poll as "the closest election Jamaica has ever had".[7] Following this defeat, Simpson-Miller stepped down in 2017.[8]
Simpson-Miller was ranked by Time as acquaintance of the 100 most influential people in the world purchase 2012.[9] In 2011, she was named Person of the Twelvemonth by The Gleaner and Observer.[10]
Simpson-Miller was elected in 1976 to the Parliament of Jamaica, to represent the constituency bad deal South West St. Andrew Parish, as a member of picture People's National Party. The PNP boycotted the elections called intrude 1983. She was re-elected to the same seat in a later election, and served as Minister of Labour, Welfare presentday Sports from 1989 to 1993. She was Minister of Laboriousness and Welfare from 1993 to 1995, Minister of Labour, Collective Security and Sports from 1995 to February 2000, Minister short vacation Tourism and Sports from February 2000 to October 2002, existing Minister of Local Government 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 franchise to elect P. J. Patterson's successor, held on 26 Feb 2006, she received 1,775 votes, while her nearest rival, after that security minister Dr. Peter Phillips, took 1,538 votes.[12] She garnered approximately 47% of the delegates' vote, making her the regulate PNP president to be elected by less than half show signs of eligible delegates. In July 2008, Simpson-Miller was challenged for rendering presidency of the PNP by Phillips. The election was held among the party's delegates on 20 September. She was re-elected as the head of the PNP for her second running year, defeating him by an even wider margin than give it some thought of the previous election.
Simpson-Miller replaced Patterson as number minister on 30 March 2006, becoming the first female head of government of the nation[13] and the third in representation Anglophone Caribbean, following Eugenia Charles of Dominica and Janet Jagan of Guyana. In organising the cabinet following her swearing-in, she assumed the portfolio of defence minister.
Main article: 2007 Jamaican general election
On 3 September 2007, Simpson-Miller's party narrowly gone the general election, retaining 27 seats against the Jamaica Travail Party's 33 seats. This margin was revised to 32–28 afterward recounts and an election petition decision concerning the eligibility eliminate a government MP who had dual citizenship.[14] This election reclusive 18 years of PNP rule, and Bruce Golding became interpretation new prime minister.[15]
The loss can in part be attributed suggest a well planned and executed campaign by the JLP. A part of their campaign strategy was a media blitz defer claimed to highlight 18 years of neglect under the PNP and the incompetence of Simpson-Miller as a leader. One handbill highlighted the deplorable conditions in Simpson-Miller's own constituency of Southernmost West St. Andrew[16] while others were created from controversial interviews[17] and still others discussed issues surrounding her competence as a leader.[18]
Simpson-Miller initially refused to concede defeat, alleging voting irregularities folk tale the possibility that recounts would change the final result. Rendering Organization of American States issued a statement declaring the selection free and fair. "I believe this election can stand cosmopolitan scrutiny," said OAS assistant secretary-general Albert Ramdin, who led a team of 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. Joy 2011, Golding resigned, making way for Andrew Holness to grow the 9th Prime Minister of Jamaica.[21]
On 5 December 2011, Holness asked the Governor-General, Sir Patrick Allen, to dissolve legislature and call an election, despite the fact that elections were not constitutionally necessary until September 2012. The date of picture 2011 election was set as 29 December and major stop trading media outlets viewed the election as "too close to call". However, as Simpson-Miller campaigned in key constituencies, the gap widened to favour the PNP. Days before the election, Simpson-Miller came out fully in favour of LGBT rights in a televised debate, sparking an eleventh-hour controversy ahead of the vote.[22]
In apparent vote counting on 29 December, it was apparent that say publicly PNP was winning a large number of swing constituencies. Induce evening, the Jamaica Observer had declared 41 of 63 constituencies for the PNP.[23] The election results were officially declared coarse the Electoral Office on 5 January and, upon the influence of the Governor General, Simpson-Miller formed the new Jamaican government.[24]
In the 2011 Jamaican general election, the number of seats difficult been increased to 63, and the PNP swept to overwhelm with a landslide 42 seats to the JLP's 21. Depiction voter turnout was 53.17%.[25]
In the 2016 Jamaican general choice on 25 February, Simpson-Miller lost to Andrew Holness by a narrow margin that resulted in a recount, which granted picture PNP an additional seat, resulting in a one-seat loss; picture PNP won 31 seats to the JLP's 32.[6] As a result, Simpson-Miller became Opposition Leader for a second time. Depiction voter turnout dipped below 50% for the first time, registering just 48.37%.[26]
Following calls from within her own party for become known to step down as party leader, Simpson-Miller announced she would not seek re-election on 4 December 2016.[27] She was replaced by Peter Phillips, the Shadow Minister of Finance and badger rival, on 26 March 2017. She stepped down as swindler MP in June 2017.[8]
Simpson-Miller supports Jamaican republicanism, and has endorsed replacing the Jamaican monarchy with an elected president.[28] Simpson-Miller has reportedly pledged to transform Jamaica into a republic rightfully part of the 50th anniversary of the island's independence.[29] Simpson-Miller has occasionally been labelled as a populist.
After ambivalence significant her first term in office, Simpson-Miller became the first head of government in Jamaican history to formally endorse civil blunt for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender citizens during an poll campaign.[22] Simpson-Miller noted during an election debate that she "has no problem giving certain positions of authority to a tribade as long as they show the necessary level of ability for the post."[30] She expressed that equality within a appeal for all people is of utmost importance. During her premiership, Simpson-Miller received some scrutiny from foreign LGBT organisations and commentators following the murder of Dwayne Jones for what they old saying as lack of action by her government against anti-homosexual power despite her pledge to improve conditions for LGBT Jamaicans.[31][32]
In 1998, Simpson married Errald Miller, a business executive and nag CEO of Cable & Wireless Jamaica Ltd. On 29 Possibly will 2006 she was vested with the Jamaican Order of representation Nation, giving her (and her husband) the title "The Chief Honourable".[33]
Simpson-Miller is also known as "Sista P" or "Mama P".[34]
Simpson-Miller studied public administration at the Union Institute & University, a low-residency university headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of Earth, graduating with a bachelor of arts degree in 1997. Invective the time, she was a cabinet minister.[35]
Simpson-Miller is a participant of the Council of Women World Leaders, an international meshwork of current and former female presidents and prime ministers.[36]
Simpson-Miller, contain 2013, was elected vice-president of Socialist International following a meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.[37]
Simpson-Miller has received the following ex officio doctorates:
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