Permanent Secretary

Mrs. Carol Ann Palmer, a Justice of the Peace has over thirty years experience in Public Sector Management. A former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice between 2002 and 2009, she has a wealth of knowledge about Jamaica’s Justice System. During that period she was charged with leading the transformation and reform of the Justice System in Jamaica and implementing Restorative Justice Approaches in Jamaica. To this end, she led a 20-man team of persons from Government, non-Government and faith-based organisations on a study tour to Canada to observe their practices in Restorative Justice. Chairman of the Trafficking in Persons Task Force which resulted in Jamaica attaining Tier II rating and the passage of legislation in the matter.

She is committed to equity, justice and fair-play and improving Public perception of officers in the Public Sector. Mrs. Palmer has represented Jamaica internationally on many occasions at conferences, workshops and seminars, where she has presented Jamaica’s position at various fora.

A trained Physiotherapist, Mrs. Palmer has served the Health Sector as a Senior Director in the Ministry of Health with special responsibility for Health Systems Improvement Branch of the Policy Planning and Development Division.  As a “change champion”, she was instrumental in the change management process embraced by that Ministry with its focus being the “people issues” for building a quality organization. Over the years she has assumed progressively challenging management roles, starting as coordinator for Physiotherapist Services in the Public Sector, Director of Local Physical Therapy Training Programme. 

Mrs. Palmer studied at the University of the West Indies, Mona where she obtained a Bachelors degree in Management Studies. Thereafter, she has the distinction of being the first of two persons selected in the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Programme at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia where she received a Masters degree in Public Sector Management. Mrs. Palmer is also a past student of the UHWI School of Physical Therapy, Mona; Merl Grove High School and Swallowfield Primary School.

A trained practitioner, Mrs. Palmer is a member of the Board of Trustees at the International Institute for Restorative Practices since 2009. She has served as Chairman of the Physical Therapy School Board and is a regular speaker on health issues to community based organisations, professional organizations and schools as well as a motivational speaker on Restorative Justice matters.

Mrs. Palmer, the third of seven girls, was born in the parish of St. Andrew.  She is the mother of three children, an ordained Elder in the Seventh-Day Adventist and enjoys family Road Trips. She now has two grandsons.