The Most Honourable P. J. Patterson ON PC QC |
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6th Prime Minister of Jamaica | |
In office 30 March 1992 – 30 March 2006 |
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Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Governor General |
Sir Howard Cooke Sir Kenneth O. Hall |
Deputy | Seymour Mullings(1993-2002) |
Preceded by | Michael Manley |
Succeeded by | Portia Simpson-Miller |
Minister of Defence | |
In office 30 March 1992 – 30 March 2006 |
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Preceded by | Michael Manley |
Succeeded by | Portia Simpson-Miller |
Deputy Prime Minister of Jamaica | |
In office February 1989 – March 1992 |
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In office 1978–1980 |
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Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade | |
In office 1978–1980 |
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Personal details | |
Born |
Percival Noel James Patterson 10 April 1935 Hanover, Jamaica |
Nationality | Jamaica |
Political party | People's National Party (1967-present) |
Percival Noel James Patterson, ON, PC, QC (born 10 April 1935), is a former Jamaican politician who served as the sixth Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1992 to 2006. He was the leader of the People's National Party from 1992 to 2006 and as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Westmoreland South Eastern from 1970 to 1980 when he lost to the Jamaica Labour Party Euphemia Williams, and again from 1989 to 1993. Following a constituency reorganization, he served as the MP for Westmoreland Eastern from 1993 to 2006. He retired from all of these positions in March 2006. He was married to Shirley Field-Ridley (d. 1982) with whom he had two children, Richard and Sharon.
Cabinet positions held during his political career include Minister of Industry and Tourism; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade; Minister of Development, Planning and Production; Minister of Finance and Planning.
Patterson received his secondary education at one of Jamaica's most prominent learning institutions, Calabar High School, before moving on to pursue higher studies at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus, and later the London School of Economics.
While pursuing his bachelor's degree at the University of the West Indies, he served as Chairman of the university’s External Affairs Commission, where he gained exposure to world leaders and international political thought through attendance at a number of international student fora. It was also at university that he developed a commitment to Caribbean regionalism as well as to the causes of the countries of the developing world.
His time as a Law student of the London School of Economics consolidated the foundation in international politics than his university experience in Jamaica had provided.