Andrew Holness
Andrew Holness | |
|---|---|
| File:Andrew Holness.png | |
| Prime Minister of Jamaica Designate | |
| Assuming office 1 March 2016 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor General | Patrick Allen |
| Succeeding | Portia Simpson-Miller |
| In office 23 October 2011 – 5 January 2012 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor General | Patrick Allen |
| Preceded by | Bruce Golding |
| Succeeded by | Portia Simpson-Miller |
| Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party | |
| Assumed office 20 November 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Bruce Golding |
| Minister of Education | |
| In office 11 September 2007 – 1 January 2012 | |
| Prime Minister | Bruce Golding |
| Preceded by | Maxine Henry-Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Ronald Thwaites |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Andrew Michael Holness 22 July 1972 Spanish Town, Jamaica |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Spouse | Juliet Holness (1997–present) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of the West Indies |
Andrew Michael Holness (born 22 July 1972) is a Jamaican politician who was re-elected Prime Minister of Jamaica on 25 February 2016. He also served as Prime Minister from October 2011 to January 2012. He previously served as the Minister of Education from 2007 to 2012. Shortly after taking office, he led his party, the Jamaica Labour Party, to defeat in the December 2011 general election. He has served as Leader of the Opposition from January 2012 to February 2016.[1]
Holness is the youngest person to become Prime Minister in Jamaica's history, as well as the country's ninth Prime Minister overall. He is the also first prime minister to be born post Jamaican independence.[2]
Biography
Early life
Andrew Holness is a graduate of the St. Catherine High School and a graduate of the University of the West Indies where he pursued a Master of Science in Development Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Management Studies.[3] In 1997, he married Juliet Holness (née Landell), an accountant, whom he had met as student at St. Catherine High School during the 1980s.[4][5] The couple have two children, Adam and Andrew Jr.[6]
Holness served as Executive Director in the Voluntary Organization for Uplifting Children from 1994 to 1996 and then joined the Premium Group of Companies, acting as a special assistant to Edward Seaga.
He is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church [7]
Political career
In 1997 he became Member of Parliament for West Central St. Andrew and served as Opposition Spokesperson on Land and Development from 1999 to 2002. In 2002 he switched portfolio to Housing and then Education in 2005. He was sworn in as Minister of Education in September 2007.
Prime Minister
He succeeded Bruce Golding as both leader of the Jamaica Labour Party and Prime Minister on 23 October 2011, making him the ninth person to hold this office. As Prime Minister, he chose to retain the education portfolio.
2011 elections
On 5 December 2011, Holness called the next election for 29 December 2011. The JLP campaigned in their strongholds and Holness highlighted the four years of JLP government with accomplishments, such as economic growth and crime reduction which the JLP says the PNP failed to do during their eighteen years rule of the country. The JLP, however, lost at the polls to the People's National Party, which gained a large majority of 42 to the JLP's 21 parliamentary seats.
2016 elections
On 25 February 2016, the Jamaica Labour Party, headed by Andrew Holness, won the national elections. Andrew Holness is Jamaica's Prime Minister-designate. On account of the election of his wife, it will be the first time a Prime Minister or Opposition Leader and his/her spouse will be sitting in the Parliament together.[8]
See also
References
- ^ http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20120106/lead/lead1.html
- ^ Robinson, Claude (23 October 2011). "When Andrew Holness becomes prime minister today". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
- ^ http://www.opm.gov.jm/node/1565
- ^ Husey-Whyte, Donna (13 November 2011). "The PM's wife Juliet Holness speaks of life, love and family". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ^ Ellington, Barbara (20 November 2011). "Juliet Holness; Jamaica is safe in Andrew's hands". The Gleaner. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
- ^ "Mr. Andrew Michael Holness, M.P. Opposition Leader". Jamaica Information Service. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ^ http://dominicanewsonline.com/news/homepage/news/politics/andrew-holness-sworn-in-as-jamaica%E2%80%99s-new-prime-minister/
- ^ http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/Juliet-joins-husband-Andrew-in-Parliament_52914
External links
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† Served as Chief Minister of Jamaica. ‡ Served as Premier of Jamaica. | |||