How to Address the Head of Government (Prime Minister)

The Prime Minister

In many Commonwealth countries, the Prime Minister is formally styled ‘The Honourable’. If he/she becomes a member of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom (an office held for life), then he/she is styled ‘The Right Honourable’.

If the Prime Minister of Jamaica is a member of the Privy Council he/she is formally styled: ‘the Right Honourable ………………………, PC, MP’. Although  it has become a tradition in Jamaica to use the postnominal letters ‘PC’, the British and other Commonwealth Countries generally do not use these letters, as it is considered implicit in the title ‘Right Honourable’. It is therefore optional. However, if a Prime Minister becomes a member of the Order of the Nation, he/she is styled the Most Honourable and if he/she becomes a member of the British Privy Council, the letters PC must be placed after the name as the prefix ‘Most Honourable’ subsumes the prefix ‘Right Honourable’ eg. The Most Honourable P.J. Patterson, ON, OCC*, PC, QC.

* Mr Patterson is a member of the Order of Caribbean Community, CARICOM’s highest honour.

At formal official functions if the Governor-General is not present and where the Prime Minister is present, the National Anthem should be played to announce the arrival of the Prime Minister. All persons present should stand silently with heels together and preferably with hands at sides.

The Mode of Address in:

Writing:

Opening Salutation:

Closing:

Verbal Address/Subsequent Referrals:

Introduction:

Informally:

Place Card:

Note

Normally place cards are not used for the Governor-General nor the Prime Minister as, at this level, their seats would have been designated and carefully noted by those doing the seating.

Invitation Card:

Placing the title before the name of the host is correct when addressing an invitation card, eg.