The Hon. Rudyard Spencer is the new Minister of Health. Mr. Spencer was sworn in at Kings House on Friday, September 14, 2007. Mr. Spencer was born in Grange Hill, Westmoreland on February 23, 1944. He studies Industrial Relations at Medgar Evers College, Cornell University, USA.

He is an active trade unionist and has held the positions of President, Senior Vice President and Senior Negotiating Officer in the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) where he is a Specialist in financial sector

worker representation and negotiations. He was Director of the Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions. Mr. Spencer represents the trade union movement internationally as Member of Caribbean Congress of Labour. He was Chairman of the Joint BITU/JLP Committee.

He is a member of the JLP Central Executive and was first appointed to the Senate in 1993. He is Member of Parliament for the South East Clarendon constituency.

Mr. Spencer has held several key positions in the Jamaica Labour Party such as Deputy Chairman, Deputy Chairman to the Central Executive, and Deputy Chairman to the Selection Committee. He was also leader of the Opposition in the Senate from 1995 – 1997.

Mr. Spencer was awarded the Order of Distinction (National Award), in 1995. He is an Anglican by religion and has three children.