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Parliamentarians Pay Tribute to Portia Simpson Miller

By: , June 28, 2017

The Key Point:

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has hailed former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, for her stellar contribution to politics and to the people of Jamaica.
Parliamentarians Pay Tribute to Portia Simpson Miller
Photo: Chad Bryan
Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness pays tribute to former Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller during a joint meeting of the House of Representatives and the Senate on June 27.

The Facts

  • He described her as
  • Also paying tribute were: Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange; Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith; Chairman of the People’s National Party, Robert Pickersgill; and General Secretary of the People’s National Party, Julian Robinson.

The Full Story

Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, has hailed former Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, for her stellar contribution to politics and to the people of Jamaica.

At a joint sitting of the House of Representatives and the Senate on June 27 to pay tribute to Mrs. Simpson Miller, who is resigning as Member of Parliament for South West St. Andrew, the Prime Minister noted that she has had a phenomenal career and done outstandingly well in her over 40 years of service in politics.

He described her as “a metaphor of hope in the face of adversity” and as being “no ordinary woman.”

Mrs. Simpson Miller was also lauded by Mr. Holness for being compassionate, especially to the poor and marginalised in the society.

“The defence of the poor in society must never be left unattended. You have been the voice on policies that govern the poor,” he said.

In his tribute, Acting Leader of Government Business in the House, Hon. Everald Warmington, said Mrs. Simpson Miller’s commitment to the people of Jamaica is without question.

Mr. Warmington described her as a “champion of the poor and oppressed.”

Leader of the Opposition, Dr. Peter Phillips, said that Mrs. Simpson Miller has made a tremendous contribution to the development of Jamaica.

“Portia Simpson Miller has become for thousands of Jamaicans a symbol of our capacity to achieve greatness,” he said.

Also paying tribute were: Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Hon. Olivia Grange; Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Senator the Hon. Kamina Johnson Smith; Chairman of the People’s National Party, Robert Pickersgill; and General Secretary of the People’s National Party, Julian Robinson.

Mrs. Simpson Miller has served as Member of Parliament for the constituency of St. Andrew South Western since 1976; and as the country’s first female Prime Minister.

She also served as Minister of Labour, Social Security and Sport; Minister of Tourism and Sport; and Minister of Local Government, Community Development and Sport.

Mrs. Simpson Miller is expected to resign as Member of Parliament on Thursday, June 29.

Mrs. Simpson Miller, in her response, said she was heartened by the kind words.

She offered special thanks to members of her South Western St. Andrew constituency, whom she described as her “armour of steel.”

“They know I will never ever leave them… They have made me who I am today. They provided me with the platform that launched my career into the highest form of Government,” she said.

Thanks were also expressed for the support and guidance provided by former Prime Ministers Edward Seaga, P.J. Patterson, Michael Manley and Hugh Lawson Shearer, as well as Trade Unionist Hopeton Caven, whom she said aided her in honing her skills as a politician and leader.

She has offered full support to Opposition Leader, Dr. Peter Phillips.

Last Updated: June 28, 2017

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