PNP Patriots urges Gov’t to rename Western Children’s Hospital in honour of Portia Simpson Miller
KINGSTON, Jamaica — As the country marks 20 years since Portia Simpson Miller became Jamaica’s first female prime minister, the People’s National Party (PNP) Patriots is “respectfully” calling on the Jamaica Labour Party Government to honour her tangibly.
“Her ascension to the highest political office was not only a personal triumph but a defining moment in Jamaica’s democratic development, a powerful affirmation that background must never limit destiny,” the Patriots said in a statement on Monday.
Monday March 30, 2026 marked 20 years exactly since Simpson Miller became Prime Minister of Jamaica at the helm of the People’s National Party (PNP) for the first time, in 2006.
Urging Prime Minister Andrew Holness to take a decisive step in preserving her legacy by renaming the Western Children’s Hospital in her honour, the Patriots said:
“The facility was conceptualised under Mrs Simpson Miller’s leadership, and she personally travelled overseas to secure funding and international partnerships for its realisation before demitting office following the 2016 general election. It stands today as a testament to her vision for equitable healthcare access for Jamaica’s children, particularly those in western Jamaica.”
Ibrahim Konteh, deputy general secretary of the Patriots and chairman of the PNP Cultural and Heritage Commission, noted that when Simpson Miller broke that male-dominated barrier 20 years ago, she did more than make history.
“She expanded what was possible in the Jamaican imagination. Young girls across this country saw themselves reflected in national leadership for the first time. Renaming the Western Children’s Hospital in her honour would not merely recognise a former prime minister; it would honour a legacy of compassion, resilience, and unwavering service to the Jamaican people,” Konteh said.
The Patriots noted that Simpson Miller’s achievements serve as an enduring inspiration to Jamaicans from every walk of life, affirming that leadership is not confined by gender, geography, or circumstance but is forged through courage, conviction, and commitment to service.
“Nations must deliberately preserve and celebrate their trailblazers, and naming this vital institution after Mrs Simpson Miller would be a fitting and unifying tribute to a leader whose life’s work was grounded in service to the most vulnerable,” the organisation said.
