Fitz Jackson wears seven stars among political generals of the House
Published:Sunday | August 24, 2025 | 12:05 AM
In another time and place – perhaps without the tribal politics – Fitz Jackson might have been the one to lead the next set of parliamentarians into Gordon House if he were successful in the September 3 general election, winning all eight elections contested since 1993.
Jackson is proud of his spotless electoral record – from form captain in school to class prefect, to citizens’ association president, and seven-time member of parliament (MP).
He hopes the people of St Catherine Southern will give him “what is mostly likely a final term” to complete “unfinished business for all constituents”.
“I’ve never sought any office,” he told The Sunday Gleaner. “All offices that I’ve run in, those who serve around me are the ones who, I want to say, have demanded, pulled or recruited me to serve in that leadership capacity, because I generally always serve in a supporting capacity. I have never contended for a post at first go, or say I want to be in that position. To assist, not to lead. And, out of the serving and working with my colleagues, they are the ones who say [it should be] you.”
His quiet approach to leadership also earned him respect on the international stage. As a parliamentary representative to the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific-European Union (ACP-EU) Joint Parliamentary Assembly, he made an immediate impact at his first meeting in Mauritius in 2013. A resolution for the lifting of the economic and trade embargo imposed on the Republic of Cuba by the United States of America was on the agenda – despite Cuba only holding observer status. Jackson rallied the ACP bloc and persuaded them to pass it.
“That was my first meeting. I never know nobody. I go there as a solo Jamaican delegation. The only support I had was the ambassador based in Europe,” he recalled.
“I’ve always been advocating for pro-ACP policy positions in trade, in security, and all the other agenda items that come up. And I’ve always voiced my position in those forums.”
Though the ACP presidency rotates across Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, Jackson’s early leadership earned him broad support.
“When the rotation came, it wasn’t even the Caribbean time to get the presidency of the ACP, because the president of the ACP assembly becomes the co-president of the joint assembly. ... They moved a resolution that [the Caribbean] should get the presidency.”
The ambassador from Barbados insisted that Jackson lead, even though it wasn’t technically Jamaica’s time, as it also rotates within the Caribbean grouping. Jackson accepted – on one condition: unanimous support from the Caribbean group. He got it.
POLITICAL LONGEVITY
While he gained international experience, Jackson’s political endurance has been grounded in local service. He has held ministerial roles in local government, finance, public service, and national security. His entry into Parliament was born out of internal party shifts during the People’s National Party (PNP) leadership race in 1992, when Michael Manley retired because of ill health.
The race between P.J. Patterson and Portia Simpson saw political fallout. Then-MP Hugh Small, a Simpson supporter, was one of its early casualties. Jackson was vice-chairman of the constituency at the time. After Small resigned, Jackson became acting chairman and, later, the consensus pick for the by-election.
“I was asked by the executive to consider running and I asked for a week to consult,” he told The Sunday Gleaner.
He did, and the rest is political history.
Jackson doesn’t measure his work in terms of “seeking another term” but rather by “continuing to serve”.
However the Jamaica Labour Party’s Delroy Dobney, who is his challenger this time around, may want to say something about that.
Jackson’s service isn’t without challenges. He expresses disappointment in what he sees as the dwindling spirit of community and voluntary service.
Jackson has also built a reputation as a vocal advocate for banking consumers. He has introduced legislation aimed at curbing what he calls “predatory banking fees”, though the Government has consistently used its parliamentary majority to block it.
“This is one occasion where the Jamaican public has an opportunity to clearly demonstrate that it is mature enough, rational enough, to vote in protection of their own interests, regardless of party. Because, if you’re not prepared to stand up for yourself, why should anybody stand up for you? But I will continue … ,” he told The Sunday Gleaner.
Jackson remains a firm opponent of making Portmore Jamaica’s 15th parish – at least in its current form. He believes such a move deserves national consensus, not just local consultation.
He reiterated that it was not a fight against the municipality becoming a parish, but it being done in a “non-democratic” way.
He lists land titling, road infrastructure in communities like Quarry Hill, and education access among the “unfinished business” he hopes to tackle in one last term.
He also intends to proritise roads and infrastructure as well as education “so we can be the best and create a clear pathway for [the next generation] in self-actualisation through various fields of endeavour that they wish, and to offer and use their professional competencies in nation-building”.