Name: Portia Lucretia Simpson Miller
Born: December 12, 1945
Industry: Government, Politics

History was made in Jamaica when on February 26, 2006 Mrs. Simpson-Miller was elected as the first female president of the People’s National Party (PNP) and on March 30, 2006 when she was sworn in as Jamaica’s first female Prime Minister.  She served in this post for the period March 2006 to September 2007 and again from January 2012 to March 2016.

Portia Simpson-Miller was born on December 12, 1945 in the rural community of Wood Hall, St. Catherine. She is married to Errald Miller.

Mrs. Simpson Miller received her formal education at the Marlie Hill Primary School; the former St. Martin’s High School and Jamaica Commercial Institute. Mrs. Simpson-Miller also received a Degree in Public Administration from the Union Institute of Miami. Several years later, in 2002 the Institute conferred upon Mrs. Simpson-Miller the degree of Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters. The award of this honorary degree was quite significant as Mrs. Simpson-Miller is the first graduate to have received the Institute’s honorary degree. In addition, Mrs. Simpson Miller holds the Certificate in Advanced Management from the University of California at Berkley and a Certificate in Public Relations and Advanced Management from the Institute of Management and Production, Jamaica.

1974 was the beginning of Mrs. Simpson-Miller’s career in representational politics. She was asked to represent the People’s National Party in the Municipal elections of 1974 representing the Trench Town area. Mrs. Simpson-Miller’s surprising success in the Municipal elections made way for her to be nominated as a candidate for the general elections. This was also another success story with her winning in both the 1976 and 1980 general elections. She has also been Member of Parliament for South-West St. Andrew since 1989. Mrs. Simpson-Miller has been one of the most successful and popular female politicians in Jamaica.

Mrs. Simpson Miller has served in several areas of the People’s National Party:

Her accomplishments include reform to the Overseas Farm workers program through the Overseas Recruitment Centre for Farm Workers. It was also Mrs. Portia Simpson’s initiative which resulted in the significant growth in the National Insurance Fund which benefits pensioners. She also had high on her agenda the employment of youth and women.

Mrs. Simpson-Miller is an avid supporter of Jamaican athletes and she would be seen at many sports events often dressed in the National colours. It was also under the leadership of Portia Simpson-Miller as Sports Minister that the Indoor Sports Facility at the National Stadium was built and the Sports Development Foundation established.

Related Documents

• Simpson Miller gets third honorary PhD. The Sunday Observer, May 25, 2014.
• How Portia became Jamaica’s first woman prime minister. By HG Helps. The Observer, March 7, 2013, pp. 16-18.
• Simpson Miller made honorary Rotarian. The Gleaner, June 15, 2012, p. A4.
• Portia Simpson Miller. By Michael Thompson. The Daily Observer, February 9, 2010, p. T8.
• Portia becomes PNP president, Prime Minister. By Erica Virtue. Sunday Observer, January 28, 2007, p. 4.
• Portia among Time magazine’s 100 most influential. The Daily Observer, April 19, 2012, p. 3.
• PM happy for honorary degree. By Dave Lindo. The Gleaner, August 13, 2012, p. A3.
• Portia Simpson Miller in academic gown at graduation ceremony. The Observer, August 13, 2012.
• Portia Simpson Miller: ‘Time to shine’. By Ingrid Brown. The Daily Observer, January 6, 2012.
• All set for Portia – Colourful inauguration ceremony on at King’s House. By HG Helps. Jamaica Observer, January 5, 2012, pp. 1&4.
• PM makes first budget presentation. Sunday Herald, December 31, 2006. – January 6, 2007, p. 10B.
• Portia Simpson Miller.
• Portraits of Portia: new Prime Minister Sworn In. The Gleaner, March 31, 2006.
• Portia Simpson Miller bio. The Jamaica Observer, February 26, 2006.
• Portia awarded Order of the Nation. By Ingrid Brown. The Daily Observer, May 30, 2006, pp, 1&3.
• Portia joins in welcoming international football star John Barnes. By Wyvolyn Gager. Lifestyle, September/October 1989.
• Need to learn from Garvey – Simpson. JamPress, Kingston, August 24, 1995.
• PNP Women’s Movement for peaceful elections.
• Doctorate for Tourism Minister. The Gleaner, April 23, 2001.
• Candidate – Portia Simpson Miller. pnpjamaica.com, May 14, 2007, pp. 1-5.
• The Hon. Mrs. Portia Simpson-Miller, Minister of Local Government, Community Development & Sports. JIS, January 6, 2005.
• Portia Simpson Miller: Special achievements… October 14, 1980.
• Simpson Miller to be sworn in today. By Petrina Francis. The Gleaner, March 30, 2006.
• A Nation on a Mission: Jamaica – Diaspora Partnership for Development – Opening Ceremony. June 16, 2013.
• Portia gets honorary doctorate. The Daily Observer, April 23, 2001.
• Portia #89 of world’s 100 most powerful women. The Daily Observer, September 2, 1006, p. 3.
• Portia leads. The Friday Herald, May 3, 1996, p. 1A.
• Jamaica’s ‘Mama’ has hands full. By Carol J. Williams. Los Angeles Times, March 30, 2006, p. A18.
• Portia Simpson on: Giving back to the community. The Gleaner, January 11, 1996, p. 88.
• Prime Ministers both. By Mel Cooke, The Sunday Gleaner, April 30, 2006, p. E4.
• Minister Simpson awarded scholarship. Jamaica Record, July 7, 1989.
• Simpson not campaigning for party leadership. The Gleaner, March 13, 1992.
• Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Sport.
• Program for the swearing-in of The Honourable Portia Simpson Miller. March 30, 2006.
• Program for the swearing-in of The Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller. January 5, 2012.
• Inaugural Address by The Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller. January 5, 2012.
• Team Portia 2006 – On the Road to Victory