Inside Gordon House

 

      Have you ever stopped to think about who shapes the laws that govern your daily life? From the cost of goods to your access to education, every major decision starts in one place-Gordon House. As the center of Jamaica's democracy, this is where leaders debate, decide, and define the nation's future.

  Named after George Williams Gordon, a Jamaican national hero, Gordon House the heart of parliament is the official meeting place of parliament. Located in Kingston, it has been the center of Jamaica's legislative affairs since 1960. With the walls, important decisions are made that impact the lives of every Jamaican. (The Spanish Jamaican Foundation, 2001)

   Jamaica operates under a bicameral parliamentary system, meaning it has two houses: the House of Representative and the Senate. Together, they play crucial role in shaping the country's law and policies, ensuring that governance is both democratic and representative of the people.  

The House of Representative

The House of Representative is the lower house of parliament, made up of 63 elected Members of Parliament (MPs). These MPs represent different constituencies across Jamaica and are responsible for proposing and debating laws. The leader of party with the majority in the House of Representative typically becomes the Prime Minister which we know him as Hon. Andrew Holness. (JIS 2024)

The Senate

The Senate or the Upper House, consist of 21 appointed Senators. The Prime Minister recommends 13 Senators, while the Leader of Opposition who we know as Mark Golding recommends 8. The senate reviews and revises legislation passed by the House of Representative, ensuring a system of checks and balances. (JIS, Nd)

Key figures 

Speaker of the House- Presides over debates in the House of Representatives, ensuring order. 

                                                  Speaker of the House- Juliet Holness

 

The President of the Senate- Oversees discussions in the Senate and ensures fair proceedings 

President of the Senate- Thomas Tavares-Finson

Members of Parliament- Elected Representatives responsible for lawmaking and addressing national issues.

Government – Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Members:

• Dr. The Most Hon. Andrew Holness, ON – Saint Andrew West Central – Prime Minister

• Dr. The Hon. Horace Chang, CD – Saint James North Western – Deputy Prime Minister

• The Most Hon. Juliet Holness – Saint Andrew East Rural – Speaker

• Mr. Heroy Clarke – Saint James Central – Deputy Speaker

• Hon. Edmund Bartlett – Saint James East Central – Leader of Government Business

• Hon. Olivia Grange – Saint Catherine Central – Deputy Leader of Government Business

• Hon. Pearnel Patroe Charles Jr. – Clarendon Southeastern

• Hon. Robert Nesta Morgan Sr. – Clarendon North Central

• Mr. Lester Michael Henry, OJ – Clarendon Central

• Mr. Phillip Henriques – Clarendon Northwestern

• Mr. Dwight Sibblies – Clarendon Northern

• Mr. Dave Brown – Hanover Eastern

• Ms. Tamika Davis – Hanover Western

• Hon. Desmond McKenzie – Kingston Western

• Mr. Donovan Williams – Kingston Central

• Hon. Audley Shaw – Manchester North Eastern

• Ms. Rhoda Moy-Crawford – Manchester Central

• Mr. Robert Chin – Manchester Southern

• Hon. Daryl Vaz – Portland Western

• Mrs. Ann-Marie Vaz – Portland Eastern

• Hon. Fayval Williams – Saint Andrew Eastern

• Dr. The Hon. Nigel Clarke – Saint Andrew North Western

• Hon. Karl Samuda – Saint Andrew North Central

• Hon. Delroy Chuck, QC – Saint Andrew North Eastern

• Hon. Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn – Saint Andrew West Rural

• Hon. Zavia Mayne – Saint Ann South Western

• Hon. Marsha Smith – Saint Ann North Eastern

• Ms. Krystal Lee – Saint Ann North Western

• Hon. Clifford Everald Warmington – Saint Catherine South Western

• Dr. The Hon. Christopher Tufton – Saint Catherine West Central

• Hon. Alando Terrelonge – Saint Catherine East Central

• Mr. Robert Miller – Saint Catherine South Eastern

• Ms. Kerensia Morrison – Saint Catherine North Eastern

• Dr. Andrew Wheatley – Saint Catherine South Central

• Hon. Floyd Green – Saint Elizabeth South Western

• Hon. William James Charles Hutchinson – Saint Elizabeth North Western

• Mr. Franklyn Witter – Saint Elizabeth South Eastern

• Mr. Delroy Slowley – Saint Elizabeth North Eastern

• Hon. Homer Davis – Saint James Southern

• Hon. Marlene Malahoo Forte, QC – Saint James West Central

• Hon. Robert Montague – Saint Mary Western

• Dr. The Hon. Norman Alexander Dunn – Saint Mary South Eastern

• Mr. James Robertson – Saint Thomas Western

• Dr. Michelle Charles – Saint Thomas Eastern

• Ms. Tova Hamilton – Trelawny Northern

• Vacant since September 21, 2023 – Trelawny Southern

• Mr. Daniel Lawrence – Westmoreland Eastern

• Mr. Morland Wilson – Westmoreland Western

Opposition – People’s National Party (PNP) Members:

• Mr. Mark Golding – Saint Andrew Southern – Leader of the Opposition

• Mr. Phillip Paulwell – Kingston East and Port Royal – Leader of Opposition Business

• Dr. Morais Guy – Saint Mary Central

• Dr. Angela Brown-Burke – St. Andrew Southwestern – Opposition Spokesperson on Education and Training.

• Mr. Lothan Cousins – Clarendon Southwestern – Opposition Spokesperson on Agriculture and Water.

• Ms. Denise Daley – St. Catherine Eastern – Opposition Spokesperson on Local Government.

• Mr. Julian Robinson – St. Andrew Southeastern – Opposition Spokesperson on Finance.

• Mr. G. Anthony Hylton – St. Andrew Western – Opposition Spokesperson on Industry, Investment, and Global Logistics.

• Mr. Fitz Jackson – St. Catherine Southern – Opposition Spokesperson on National Security.

• Ms. Natalie Neita – St. Catherine North Central – Opposition Spokesperson on Sports.

• Mr. Mikael Phillips – Manchester Northwestern – Opposition Spokesperson on Transport and Works.

• Mr. Hugh Graham – St. Catherine North Western – Opposition Spokesperson on Commerce, Science, and Technology.

• Ms. Lisa Hanna – St. Ann Southeastern – Opposition Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade.

Independent Member:

• Mr. George Wright – Westmoreland Central – Formerly affiliated with the Jamaica Labour Party.

currently serves as an Independent MP.

Senators- Appointed members who review legislation and provide oversight.

Government Senators (Jamaica Labour Party):

• Senator the Hon. Thomas George Lewis Tavares-Finson, O.J., C.D., K.C., J.P. – President of the Senate

• Senator the Hon. Kamina Elizabeth Johnson Smith – Leader of Government Business

• Senator the Hon. Matthew Peter Samuda

• Senator the Hon. Aubyn Rochester Hill

• Senator Ransford Braham

• Senator Kavan Anthony Gayle

• Senator Dr. Sapphire Inderea Longmore

• Senator Sherene Samantha Golding Campbell

• Senator Charles Anthony Sinclair

• Senator Donald George Wehby

• Senator Delroy Hugh Williams

• Senator Dr. Dana Morris Dixon

• Senator Abka Fitz-Henley

Opposition Senators (People’s National Party):

• Senator Peter Bancroft Bunting – Leader of Opposition Business

• Senator Donna Scott Mottley

• Senator Dr. Floyd Emerson Morris

• Senator Damion O. Crawford

• Senator Gabriela Morris

• Senator Sophia Lilleth Fraser-Binns

• Senator Lambert Alexander Brown, C.D.

• Senator Janice Allen