Dr the Honorable Christopher Tufton, Member of Parliament for West Central St. Catherine since March 2016, is Jamaica’s Minister of Health and Wellness. Prior to this He was previously the Minister of Industry, Investment & Commerce (June 2011-December 2011) and Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries (November 2008 – June 2011). He is the author of a political memoir, State of Mind: Politics, Uncertainty, and the Search for the Jamaican Dream (Ian Randle Publishers, 2019), that has been received to wide acclaim in Jamaica and the Jamaican diaspora in the United States.

Dedicated, passionate, and goal-driven, Dr. Tufton received numerous achievements during his tenure in public office. As Minister of Agriculture he spearheaded the expansion of greenhouse farming technology and the creation of agro-processing facilities. Dr. Tufton re-defined the sector’s strategic importance to the Jamaican economy, repositioning agriculture as a business. This was achieved through modernization and restructuring of the Ministry; expansion of extension services, revamping of agricultural research to be demand-driven, augmenting the marketing division and creating the Agro-Investment Corporation to mobilize investments in that sector. For his impact on the Agricultural sector Dr. Tufton was named by the influential Jamaica Gleaner as Man of the Year for 2010. 

The same drive and passion was exuded when he headed the Industry, Investment & Commerce Ministry where his focus was in investment facilitation, international market competitiveness, consumer protection and the creation of a climate of confidence to attract investors.

After leaving Government in December 2011, Dr Tufton served as the Co-Executive Director of the Caribbean Policy Research Institute, a University of the West Indies Think Tank, while also serving as an Opposition Senator (2012 – 2016).

Dr. Tufton is a business strategist whose expertise includes International Business & Marketing Strategy, specializing in foreign direct investment facilitation and the impact of public policy on industry. He has lectured and conducted business consultancy in Jamaica, the United Kingdom and the USA, in a number of areas including International Marketing, Business Strategy and Entrepreneurship.

A graduate of the University of the West Indies and Georgia State University he received degrees in Management Studies and Marketing respectively. He completed his Doctorate in Business Administration at the Manchester Business School, University of Manchester in the United Kingdom in 2002.

Dr. Tufton is married to Neadene and they have three children: Charles, Kimberly and Adam.