Jamaica's First Female President
Jamaica today celebrates the election of the ruling People’s National Party’s (PNP) first woman president in history. Portia Simpson Miller is now set to become the island’s first ever female prime minister.
Diane Abbott, MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, and Britain’s first black woman MP, today extended her heartfelt congratulations to Portia Simpson Miller saying: “This is a historically significant victory for women worldwide but for Jamaicans in particular.”
Diane went on: “Portia has already made history and looks set to consolidate her place in the history books of the future by becoming Jamaica’s first female Prime Minister. She has proven herself to be a likeable and strong willed woman. I am sure she will prove herself very worthy of this place in history and will serve as an inspiration for women the world over.”
Diane continued: “Portia has always listened particularly carefully to the most vulnerable in society. She seems to have a real connection with the electorate and knows what it is like to go without. She has a genuine appeal to the majority of the Jamaican people and her name has a particular resonance with women, the poor and the unemployed. She will be a real asset to the most underprivileged sections of Jamaican society.”
Diane added: “Portia put peace, tolerance and harmony within the nation at the heart of her campaign and I am very optimistic at the prospect of her taking on the premiership. Reconciliation and unity is exactly what we need and Portia will doubtlessly take a lead in promoting this. She has already won the hearts of Jamaicans and enjoys the full support of the Diaspora. I am certain she will make great things happen for Jamaicans.”
Notes to editors:
1. Portia Simpson Miller, local government minister, received 1,775 votes, while Peter Phillips, national security minister, won 1,538 ballots, said Danville Walker of the national electoral office.
2. Portia Simpson Miller will automatically become prime minister when
the incumbent, PJ Patterson, steps down in the next few weeks after 14
years in the post.
back ⇢