Cabinet Minister

The Honourable J.C. Hutchinson CD, MP

The Honourable

J.C. Hutchinson CD, MP


State Minister in the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport

The  Hon. William James Charles (J.C.) Hutchinson, CD, MP is the Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport. The Ministry was renamed Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications and Transport on May 22, 2023, following the addition of the Telecommunication and Transport Portfolios.

Prior to this, he served as Minister of State in the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

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, and between March 2016 and July 2020 was Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries. Mr. Hutchinson, as at July 17, 2020, was reassigned to the Office of the Prime Minister.

Minister Hutchinson is committed to advancing an agricultural sector that forms the foundation for industrial development in Jamaica. He believes that agro-industrial development is a priority for the country and that growth and sustainability can be achieved through agro-economic zones equipped to facilitate expansion along the value chain, so that we can “grow what we eat; eat what we can and can what we can’t”.

Prior to his current ministerial appointment, Mr. Hutchinson served as Minister of State for Agriculture during the period 2007-2011 and as Parliamentary Secretary in the Ministry of Education 1980-1983. In addition to farming, he has also worked as a part-time teacher and a football coach at the St Elizabeth technical High School.

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.