Derrick Kellier

Derrick Flavius Leroy Kellier CD
Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries
In office 2014–2016
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	Sir Patrick Allen
Prime Minister	Portia Simpson-Miller
Preceded by	Roger Clarke
Succeeded by	Karl Samuda
Minister of Labour and Social Security
In office 2012–2015
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	Sir Patrick Allen
Prime Minister	Portia Simpson-Miller
Preceded by	Pearnel Charles
Succeeded by	Fenton Ferguson
Minister of Labour and Social Security
In office 2006–2007
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	Sir Kenneth Hall
Prime Minister	Portia Simpson-Miller
Preceded by	Horace Dalley
Succeeded by	Pearnel Charles
Personal details
Born	(1947-05-27) 27 May 1947 (age 77) Saint James Parish, Colony of Jamaica, British Empire
Political party	People's National Party
Spouse	Claudia Kellier (née Nelson) ​ ​ (m. 1981)​
Children	5 daughters
Awards	Order of Distinction (2009)

Derrick Flavius Leroy Kellier CD (born 27 May 1947) is a Jamaican businessman and politician, representing the People's National Party (PNP). He was Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Saint James Southern from 1989 to 2020. He served as Minister of Labour and Social Security from 2006 to 2007, and again from 2012 to 2015. Kellier also served concurrently as Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries from 2014 to 2016.

Early life and education

Kellier was born on 27 May 1947 in Welcome Hall, St James. He was educated at Roehampton Primary School in St James and at Calabar High School in St Andrew.[1]

Political career

In 1978, Kellier was elected National Chairman of the People’s National Party Youth Organisation (PNPYO).[1] He was first elected to the House of Representatives from the Saint James Southern constituency in the 1989 general election, polling 7,980 votes to 3,852 for Ephraim Morgan of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), and 452 for Princess Vernon (Independent).[2] He went on to win the constituency for the PNP in the 1993, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2011, and 2016 general elections.[3][4] From 1989 to 1995, Kellier served as Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Prime Minister and in the Ministry of Education and Culture. He then served as Minister of State in the Office of the Prime Minister and from October 2002 in the Ministry of National Security. When Portia Simpson Miller became Prime Minister on 30 March 2006, she appointed Kellier to her cabinet a day later as Minister of Labour and Social Security. He remained in office until the PNP went into opposition after its election defeat in September 2007. After the PNP won the 29 December, 2011 general elections and returned to power, Prime Minister Simpson-Miller reappointed Kellier as Minister of Labour and Social Security. He was sworn in as minister on 6 January 2012.[5] Since October 2014, he has also assumed the portfolio of Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries after Roger Clarke, the sitting minister, died in office.[6] He was succeeded as Minister of Labour and Social Security by Fenton Ferguson on 9 November 2015.[7] In 2018, Kellier announced his intention to retire from representational politics after the next general election.[8] He did not contest the 2020 general election, and was succeeded as MP by Homer Davis of the JLP.[9]

Honors and awards

Kellier was awarded the Order of Distinction, Commander Class in 2009.[10]

Personal life

Kellier married Claudia Kellier (née Nelson) on 1 December 1981. He is the father of 5 daughters.

See also

• Ministry of Labour and Social Security (Jamaica)
• Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (Jamaica)

References

1. "Kellier, Derrick F." ourcampaign.com. 16 January 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
2. "Jamaica General Election Results (1989)". Electoral Commission of Jamaica. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
3. "Jamaica General Election Results (1944-2016)" (PDF). National Library of Jamaica. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
4. Mark Cummings (13 July 2020). "Davis, Small gear up to replace MP Kellier in St James Southern". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
5. Assignment of Ministers, 6 January 2012, archived from the original on 25 February 2012, retrieved 17 October 2020
6. Kellier appointed agriculture minister, 6 October 2014, archived from the original on 7 October 2014, retrieved 17 October 2020
7. Alphea Saunders (7 November 2015), Fenton reassigned to labour ministry as damning health audit released, archived from the original on 27 November 2016, retrieved 18 October 2020
8. Adrian Frater (28 May 2018). "Kellier to step away from politics - South St James MP plans to complete term while grooming successor". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
9. Horace Hines (11 September 2020). "MP-elect in western Jamaica talks winning strategies". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
10. Sacha Walters (28 September 2009). "MP Derrick Kellier to get the Order of Distinction, Commander Class". Jamaica Gleaner. Retrieved 17 October 2020.

Political offices
Preceded by Horace Dalley	Minister of Labour and Social Security 2006 – 2007	Succeeded by Pearnel Charles
Preceded by Pearnel Charles	Minister of Labour and Social Security 2012 – 2015	Succeeded by Fenton Ferguson
Preceded by Roger Clarke	Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries 2014 – 2016	Succeeded by Karl Samuda