Jamaican Prime Minister, the Hon. Hugh Shearer, has been granted membership to the Privy Council during his attendance at the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference in London. This appointment bestows upon him the title “Right Honourable” before his name as he becomes part of the esteemed group of advisers to Her Majesty.

Published Tuesday, January 7, 1969

Shearer Queen's Privy Councillor

-Joins 'inner circle of traditional advisers

JAMAICA’S Prime Minister, the Hon. Hugh Shearer has been appointed a member of the Privy Council, with the privilege of bearing the title “Right Honourable” before his name.

Mr. Shearer, who is attending the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference in London, thus joins a distinguished “inner circle” of traditional advisers to Her Majesty.

Another Jamaican member of Her Majesty’s Privy Council is the Rt. Hon. Sir Alexander Bustamante, retired Prime Minister of the country.

Trinidad’s Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon Dr. Eric Williams, is also a Privy Councillor.

An announcement from London last night said that Mr. Shearer had been appointed to the Privy Council along with the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Hon. Errol Barrow.

Highest Court

A Reuter report said:

Two leaders attending the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference here have been appointed members of the Privy Council, highest Court of Appeal in the Commonwealth.

“An announcement today by British Prime Minister Harold Wilson’s office said Queen Elizabeth had approved the appointments of Mr. Errol Walton Barrow, Prime Minister of Barbados and Mr Hugh Lawson Shearer, Prime Minister of Jamaica.       

“Both are attending the Premiers’ Conference for the first time.”

Text of the announcement from the British Minister’s office, as quoted by the British Information Service,  read:

The Queen has been pleased to approve that the Hon. Errol Walton Barrow, Prime Minister of Barbados, and Mr Hugh Lawson Shearer, Prime Minister of Jamaica, be appointed Members of Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council.”

BIS added that the Privy Council is one of Britain’s oldest and most distinguished bodies.  It dates back many centuries to Norman times and consists of persons appointed by the sovereign to advise Her on affairs of state.  Many of the Council’s duties are now carried on by the Cabinet in London, which itself began as a committee of the council.

Membership of the council carries with it the title of “Right Honourable”

The Prime Minister, the Rt. Honourable Hugh Shearer, P.C., M.P. LLd, will be received in private audience by Her Majesty the Queen at Buckingham  Palace this afternoon.

He will also attend a dinner party at Buckingham Palace in the evening being given by Her Majesty for the heads of the delegations to the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference.

After dinner, Her Majesty will hold a reception at the Palace, for other Ministers of the delegations, which will be attended by the Minister of Trade and Industry, the Hon. Robert Lightbourne, and the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Hon. J.P. Gyles.

 

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