# Prime Minister of Jamaica

The prime minister of Jamaica (Jamaican Patois: Prime Minista a Jumieka) is Jamaica's head of government, currently Andrew Holness. Holness, as leader of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), was sworn in as prime minister on 7 September 2020, having been re-elected as a result of the JLP's landslide victory in the 2020 general election.
The prime minister is formally appointed into office by the governor-general, who represents King Charles III.

## Official residence and office

The prime minister of Jamaica's official residence is Vale Royal. The property was constructed in 1694 by the planter Sir William Taylor, one of Jamaica's richest men at the time. In 1928 the property was sold to the government and became the official residence of the British colonial secretary (then Sir Reginald Edward Stubbs). Vale Royal has subsequently become the official residence of the prime minister. Vale Royal is not open to the public.
Jamaica House has been the location of the Office of the Prime Minister since 1972. Prime ministers resided there from 1964 until 1980. On 8 November 2022, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said in question time that his official residence was Jamaica House rather than Vale Royal and that Vale Royal was currently in disrepair and possible future uses would be considered after its restoration.

## Chief ministers of Jamaica (1953–1959)

| No. | Portrait | Chief Minister (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Election |
| No. | Portrait | Chief Minister (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Election |
| 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)

| No. | Portrait | Premier (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Election |
| No. | Portrait | Premier (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Election |
| 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)

Key: † Died in office
| No. | Portrait | Prime Minister (Birth–Death) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Election |
| No. | Portrait | Prime Minister (Birth–Death) | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Political party | Election |
| 1 | | Sir Alexander Bustamante (1884–1977) | 6 August 1962 | 23 February 1967 | 4 years, 201 days | JLP | 1962 |
| 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 | 9 years, 6 days | JLP | 2016 2020 |

## 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 | 9 years, 79 days (74 days; 9 years, 6 days) | 2 | 2016 2020 | 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 |