This Day in History

Portia Simpson-Miller became Jamaica’s first female Prime Minister

On this day in history March 30, 2006, Portia Simpson–Miller became Jamaica’s first female head of government and Jamaica’s seventh Prime Minister.

Simpson-Miller, known to many Jamaicans as ‘Sista P’ or ‘Mama P’, also served as Prime Minister from January 2012 to March 2016.  As Prime Minister, she held the positions of Minister of Defense, Development, Information and Sports.

Born Portia Lucretia Simpson on Dec.12, 1945 in Woodhall, Jamaica, Simpson-Miller completed the Executive Program for Leaders in Development at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and was awarded the Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by the Union Institute and an Honorary Doctorate of Public Service from the Northern Caribbean University.

On March 29, 2006, she was bestowed the Jamaica’s Order of the Nation, Jamaica’s second highest honor that a Jamaican can receive, giving her (and her husband) the title "The Most Honorable."

Simpson–Miller follows in the footsteps of Dame Eugenia Charles of Dominica, 1980-1995, Claudette Werleigh of Haiti, 1995-1996, Janet Jagan of Guyana, 1997-1999, Pamela Gordon of Bermuda, 1997-1998, Dame Jennifer Smith of Bermuda, 1998-2003, all of whom have taken the position of Prime Minister for their respective countries prior to her appointment.

She is currently the head of the Jamaican opposition party, the Peoples National Party.