POLITICAL CAREERShe was elected as a councillor in the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) in 1974 and announced her official entry into the political arena. By1978 she was a vice-president in the PNP and by 1983, young and lacking formal tertiary training, Portia was the party's spokesperson on women's affairs, pension, social security and consumer affairs. She worked this job for six years until 1989 when she became a Member of Parliament presiding over several ministries up to the present time.
Her popularity, however, gained momentum in 1992 after she contested P.J. Patterson for the post of Prime Minister when the then ailing Prime Minister Michael Manley resigned. She suffered a crushing defeat, but remained popular even though the ministries she presided over in the years after that were locked in scandals and heavy criticism.
HEAVY CRITICISM
Just last year as Minister of Local Government, she came under heavy criticism for a $2-billion scandal which rocked the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) which falls under her portfolio. During her stint as Tourism Minister too, a multi-million dollar fraud scandal erupted at the Jamaica Tourist Board's New York City office.
She has also been ridiculed in the media for being a 'serial kisser' and her intellectual capacity constantly snubbed.
She eventually qualified herself with a bachelor's degree in public administration from Union Institute in Miami, Florida. She was later awarded an honorary doctorate of humane letters by the same institute. Some detractors dismissed the quality of her credentials, however, as the products of a diploma mill.
But still she has remained the nation's most popular politician, especially for her act of defiance last year when she split with her parliamentary colleagues and abstained from voting on an opposition motion on the nation's depleted fire services.
PORTIA'S PROMISESCrime plan:
To implement a comprehensive policy and legislative framework that will enable government to address public safety in a coordinated and focused manner;Implement a targeted integrated community-based crime reduction strategy designed to significantly reduce crime, criminal activities and general lawlessness in the society;Implement a criminal statistical data system (CRISDAT) designed to facilitate strategic, operational and tactical crime management through
technology and information management;Implement a comprehensive anti-drug strategy designed to reduce the supply and demand for illegal drugs and make the country less attractive as a transshipment point;Implement a comprehensive capacity strengthening plan to increase competency, physical infrastructure, welfare and performance of the security forces, andA comprehensive financing strategy, to fund developments in the crime plan.Economic Plan:
Encourage economic diversity by putting more focus on non- traditional sectors.Develop growth and developmental strategies for big and small businesses and the labour force.Put more focus on building human and social capital to develop the Jamaican people.Diversify agricultural products and increase landholding to produce more food for export and encourage rural development.Employ more capital to build industries and create jobs.Ensure schools and training institutions provide better educational and training opportunities for youth.Encourage more private sector/ government partnerships to prepare businesses to compete in the global environment.Lobby for a more transparent budgetary process that will improve government accountability to the people. 
