MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Jamaica's first female PM sworn in

Veteran politician Portia Simpson Miller was sworn in as prime minister of Jamaica on Thursday, becoming the first woman to lead the Caribbean island's government.

"A little girl from rural Jamaica has become prime minister; a true manifestation of a Jamaican dream," Simpson Miller told a crowd of about 6,000 people on hand for her swearing-in ceremony.

Her remarks came during a lavish ceremony at King's House, the home of Jamaica's governor general, where she referred to some of the problems, including violent crime and poverty, afflicting her country of about 2.7 million people.

"We all have a responsibility to lift up the poor and the downtrodden," she said.

The 60-year-old Simpson Miller, who has strong grass-roots appeal, served as Cabinet minister for local government, community development and sports until earlier on Thursday. She has been a member of parliament since 1989.

Simpson Miller won a special election to replace former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson as head of the ruling People's National Party in February. Under Jamaica's parliamentary democracy, the head of the ruling party becomes prime minister.

Patterson became prime minister in 1992 following the resignation of the late Michael Manley.

Simpson Miller was expected to name a Cabinet on Friday. General elections in Jamaica are constitutionally due by October 2007