This is a list of the heads of state of Jamaica, from the independence of Jamaica in 1962 to the present day.
From 1962 the head of state under the Jamaica Independence Act 1962 is the Monarch of Jamaica, currently Charles III, who is also the King of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The King is represented in Jamaica by a Governor-General.
The succession to the throne is the same as the succession to the British throne.
Image | Monarch | Reign | Royal House | Prime Minister | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reign start | Reign end | Duration | ||||||
1 | Queen Elizabeth II | 1962 | 2022 | Windsor | Bustamante Sangster Shearer Manley Seaga Manley Patterson Simpson-Miller Golding Holness Simpson-Miller Holness | |||
2 | King Charles III | 2022 | Windsor | Holness |
The Governor-General is the representative of the monarch in Jamaica and exercises most of their powers. The Governor-General is appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the monarch. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, the Governor-General is appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of Jamaica without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government.
Image | Governor-General | Term of office | Monarch | Prime Minister | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in office | ||||||
1 | Sir Kenneth Blackburne | 1962 | 1962 | Elizabeth II | Bustamante | |||
2 | Sir Clifford Campbell | 1962 | 1973 | Elizabeth II | Bustamante Sangster Shearer Manley | |||
– | Sir Herbert Duffus | 1973 | 1973 | Elizabeth II | Manley | |||
3 | Sir Florizel Glasspole | 1973 | 1991 | Elizabeth II | Manley Seaga Manley | |||
– | Sir Edward Zacca | 1991 | 1991 | Elizabeth II | Manley | |||
4 | Sir Howard Cooke | 1991 | 2006 | Elizabeth II | Manley Patterson | |||
5 | Sir Kenneth O. Hall | 2006 | 2009 | Elizabeth II | Patterson Simpson-Miller Golding | |||
6 | Sir Patrick Allen | 2009 | Elizabeth II Charles III | Golding Holness Simpson-Miller Holness |