Information
Jamaica's Administrative Structure
| International Country Code: | JM |
| Type of Government: | Parliamentary Democracy |
| Capital: | 14 parishes; Clarendon, Hanover, Kingston, Manchester, Portland, St. Andrew, St. Ann, St. Catherine, St. Elizabeth, St. James, St. Mary, St. Thomas, Trelawny, and Westmoreland. |
| Independence: | 6 August 1962 (from UK) |
| Legal System: | Based on English Common Law. |
| Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal. |
| Executive Branch: | Head of State: QUEEN ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by a Governor General. His Excellency The Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, ON, GCMG, CD, the current holder has held this office since February 26th, 2009. |
| Head of Government: | Prime Minister. The Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller has held this office since January, 2012. |
| Cabinet: | Cabinet appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. |
| Legislative Branch: | Bi-cameral Parliament |
| Senate: | Consists of a 21-member body appointed by the Governor General. 13 persons on the advice of the Prime Minister and 8 persons on the recommendation of the Leader of The Opposition. |
| House of Representatives: | Consists of 63 elected officials from a General Election. (last held 9th December 2011.) |
| Judicial Branch: | Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (Great Britain) Court of Appeal of Jamaica. The Supreme Court of Jamaica, Resident Magistrates Courts, Petty Sessions Courts. |
Election News
BREAKING NEWS: JLP wins general election
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been declared winner of the 2016 General Elections after unseating the People's National Party (PNP) at today's polls.
#JaVotes2016: JLP supporter stabs man in Huntley
The Manchester police recorded its first incident today after a man clad in green stabbed another in the cheek, after a feud developed in Huntley in the constituency of North East Manchester.
#JaVotes2016: Woman escapes arrest over vote
An elderly voter narrowly escaped arrest after she was involved in an altercation with election day workers at a polling division in the St Andrew, south-eastern constituency.
