Honourable Daryl Vaz, MP

Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications, and Transport

The Honourable Daryl Vaz, MP, was sworn in as Minister of Science, Energy and Technology on September 13, 2020. He was later assigned the portfolios of Telecommunications and Transport on May 22, 2023, with the renaming of the Ministry to the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport.

Minister Vaz is passionate towards the major priorities of the Ministry, including the creation of an enabling environment to facilitate access to alternative sources of energy, greater incorporation of science and innovation as well as ensuring universal access to telecommunications as a right for all Jamaicans, with a specific focus on rural Jamaica.

He further places special emphasis on transforming the Transportation Sector of Jamaica to one that is efficient, convenient, reliable, safe, secure, and operated by persons who understand the social and economic value of such service to the well-being of Jamaican citizens and ultimately to the country’s development.

Mr. Vaz’ political career began in 1986, when he was elected Councillor for the Waterloo Division in Kingston and St. Andrew in the Local Government Elections. Since then, he has served Jamaica in several capacities including Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Information and Telecommunications, and Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Project Implementation and Service Delivery. Prior to his appointment as Minister of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport, Minister Vaz was the Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for the Land, Environment, Climate Change & Investment. He was then assigned the Water and Housing portfolios and subject matters having to do with certain special economic development projects.

He was an Opposition Spokesman on Land and the Environment as well as ICT and Digital Society Development.

Notably, Minister Vaz has also served as Deputy Treasurer of the Jamaica Labour Party from 2006 to 2010. He is the sitting Member of Parliament for Western Portland, a seat he has held since 2007.

An astute businessman, Minister Vaz was the Founding President of the Jamaica Used Car Dealers Association.

He attended Mona Preparatory, Campion College and Miami Dade Community College in Miami, Florida.

He is married to Ann-Marie Theresa Vaz, JP, Member of Parliament for Eastern Portland. They have five children.

Honourable William James Charles Hutchinson, MP

Minister of State

The Hon. William James Charles (J.C.) Hutchinson is a professional farmer with a passion for agriculture and service to his country.

Having entered the political arena in 1979, Mr. Hutchinson was elected Member of Parliament for the constituency of North Eastern St. Elizabeth in 1980 and currently serves as Member of Parliament for North Western St Elizabeth, following his election to represent that constituency in 1997.

The veteran politician has served in various capacities in Government over the years, beginning with the post of Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education from 1980-1983. Mr. Hutchinson served as Minister of State for Agriculture during the period 2007-2011 and between March 2016 and July 2020 he served as Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries. On July 17, 2020, he was reassigned to the Office of the Prime Minister, followed by his appointment as Minister of State in the Ministry of Transport and Mining in September 2020. He currently serves as Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport.

Minister Hutchinson is committed to advancing Jamaica’s vision of being the “… the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business”. He believes that this is achievable by integration of the country’s major economic drivers including agriculture, security, technology and transport.

He attended Knox College in Manchester, Munro College in St Elizabeth and Cornell University in New York, USA. He is divorced and the father of three children. In addition to farming, he has also worked as a part-time teacher and a football coach at the St Elizabeth Technical High School.