Percival Noel James Patterson, ON, QC, PC, O.E., (born 10 April 1935) was the sixth Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1992 to 2006. Until February 2006 he was the leader of the JamaicanPeople's National Party (PNP). The new PNP leader, Portia Simpson-Miller, took over as Prime Minister on 30 March 2006. Patterson was Jamaica's longest-serving Prime Minister, serving exactly 14 years.
While pursuing his Bachelors 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 at of the London School of Economics consolidated the foundation in international politics that his university experience in Jamaica had provided.
During his enrolment at the Inns of Court (Middle Temple) he again came in contact with a number of future leaders of the countries of the developing world who were fellow students in England.
Early political life
When in 1969 his predecessor as Prime Minister of Jamaica, Michael Manley, launched his campaign for the Presidency of the PNP, he turned to P.J. Patterson, the youngest of the highest-ranking segment of the party executive, to lead his campaign. This was the beginning of a partnership which endured over the next 23 years, and allowed for an exchange of political ideas and perspectives that proved beneficial to both.
He was Campaign Manager for the People's National Party's bid for power in the General Elections of 1972, demonstrating skill as a political organizer that played a significant role in the party’s victory at the polls that year. This led to his first appointment to the Jamaican Cabinet. As his political career advanced, Patterson held diverse portfolio responsibilities in the Jamaican government for areas as varied as trade and industry, tourism, foreign affairs, finance and planning.
Premiership
He assumed office as Prime Minister when Michael Manley resigned in 1992, at a time when the Caribbean island nation was facing the formidable challenge of securing a place in a new global order of economic liberalization and deregulation.
Patterson led efforts to strengthen the country’s social protection and security systems—a critical element of his economic and social policy agenda to mitigate, reduce poverty and social deprivation.[1]
His massive investments in modernization of Jamaica’s infrastructure and restructuring of the country's financial sector are widely credited with having led to Jamaica’s greatest period of investment in tourism, mining, ICT and energy since the 1960s. He also ended Jamaica’s 18-year borrowing relationship with the International Monetary Fund,[2] allowing the country greater latitude in pursuit of its economic policies.
He made international headlines in 2004 when, as Chairman of CARICOM, he led the regional organization in the decision to refuse recognition of the Gérard Latortue government in Haiti following the removal of the democratically elected Jean-Bertrand Aristide from office. Patterson arranged for Aristide to take up temporary residence in Jamaica during Aristide's lawsuit against the United States and France accusing the countries of kidnapping him.
In one of his final initiatives as Prime Minister, he launched a program of radical transformation of the island’s education system aimed at development of quality human capital equipped to succeed in the competitive global economy.[3] In addition, Patterson presided over a signficant decline in poverty during his time in office.[4]
Allegations of Homosexuality
Rumors of PJ Paterson being a homosexual followed him throughout his political career.
Mr Patterson in June 2001 found it necessary to declare his sexuality to the nation. "My credentials as a life long heterosexual person are impeccable".[5]
Patterson has contributed to numerous Conventions and Statements in the international arena including the Valletta Statement on Multilateral Trade and the Gozo Statement on Vulnerable Small States. These have helped to shape north-south relationship and influence the negotiating position of developing countries.
He played a seminal role in the process that marked the transition from the first steps in integration of the Caribbean region to the founding of CARIFTA and its evolution into CARICOM. He drew upon his expertise in law and trade, to steer the regional body toward the development of a Caribbean jurisprudence through the Caribbean Court of Justice, and a borderless regional economy through the CARICOM Single Market, which came to fruition in 2005 and 2006 respectively.
During his tenure as Jamaica’s Foreign Minister he served as President of the ACP/EU Ministerial Council and led negotiations for the ACP group of countries with the European Community. As Chairman of the ACP/EEC Ministerial Conference, he played a pivotal role in forging an agreement on the basic framework for the original Lomé Convention, which influenced the outcome of subsequent negotiations that led to the Convention signed in 1975. He has served as President and Spokesman of the ACP Ministerial Council on a number of occasions.
A passionate opponent of apartheid, he was an ardent proponent of South Africa's liberation movement.
Memberships and awards
Upon becoming the Prime Minister of Jamaica in 1992 Patterson was invested with the Order of the Nation allowing him to be known as "The Most Honourable" and to use the post-nominal letters "O.N."
In 2006 he was invested with the Order of Excellence of Guyana [1] allowing him to use the postnominal letters "O.E." [2]
Patterson is a Member of the Global Leadership Foundation, an organization which works to promote good governance around the world.[7]
References
^Franklyn, Delano (Editor): 2002. The Challenges of Change: P.J. Patterson Budget Presentations 1992–2002. Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers.
^Franklyn, Delano (Editor). 2002.A Jamaican Voice in the Caribbean and World Politics: P.J. Patterson Selected Speeches 1992–2000. Kingston, Jamaica: Ian Randle Publishers.
^Building equality and opportunity through social guarantees: new approaches to public policy and the realization of rights by Estanislao Gacitúa-Marió, Andrew Norton and Sophia V. Georgieva.
Jamaica
