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Andrew Holness

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The Most Honourable
Andrew Holness
ON PC MP
Holness in 2020
9th Prime Minister of Jamaica
Incumbent
Assumed office
3 March 2016
MonarchsElizabeth II
Charles III
DeputyHorace Chang
Governor-GeneralSir Patrick Allen
Preceded byPortia Simpson-Miller
In office
23 October 2011 – 5 January 2012
MonarchElizabeth II
DeputyKenneth Baugh
Governor-GeneralSir Patrick Allen
Preceded byBruce Golding
Succeeded byPortia Simpson-Miller
Leader of the Opposition
In office
5 January 2012 – 3 March 2016
Prime MinisterPortia Simpson-Miller
Preceded byPortia Simpson-Miller
Succeeded byPortia Simpson-Miller
Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 November 2011
Preceded byBruce Golding
Minister of Education
In office
11 September 2007 – 1 January 2012
Prime MinisterBruce Golding
Himself
Preceded byMaxine Henry-Wilson
Succeeded byRonald Thwaites
Personal details
Born
Andrew Michael Holness

(1972-07-22) 22 July 1972 (age 52)
Spanish Town, St. Catherine, Jamaica
Political partyJamaica Labour
Spouse
​
(m. 1997)​
Children2
EducationSt. Catherine High School
Alma materUniversity of the West Indies, Mona (BSc, MSc)
Northeastern University (DLP)

Andrew Michael Holness, ON PC (born 22 July 1972) is a Jamaican politician who has served as Prime Minister of Jamaica since 3 March 2016, having previously served from 2011 to 2012, and as Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) since 2011.

Holness previously served as prime minister from 23 October 2011 to 5 January 2012. He succeeded Bruce Golding as prime minister and decided to go to the polls in the 29 December 2011 general election in an attempt to get his own mandate from the Jamaican electorate. He failed in that bid, however, losing to the People's National Party led by Portia Simpson-Miller, with the PNP gaining 42 seats to the JLP's 21. Following that defeat, Holness served as Leader of the Opposition from January 2012 to March 2016, when he once again assumed the position of prime minister.[1] In 2020, the Labour Party won a landslide in another general election, and on 7 September Holness was sworn in for another term as prime minister.[2]

In October 2011, at the age of 39, Holness became the youngest person ever to be prime minister in Jamaica's history. In March 2016, aged 43, he became the youngest to ever be elected prime minister. He is also the first prime minister to have been born after Jamaica gained independence in 1962. He is currently the longest serving prime minister from the Jamaica Labour Party.[3]

Early life and education

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In 1997, Holness described his father as "a thinker and an academic socialist" and his mother as "pragmatic and frugal."[4] He grew up in Ensom City, Spanish Town, and attended St. Catherine High School. At school, he was a noted debater and became head boy and valedictorian.[5] After graduating, he taught at the school for a year, and at the age of 19 he began his undergraduate studies at the University of the West Indies, Mona, and later graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in management studies.[4][6]

After completing his degree, Holness worked as executive director of the Voluntary Organization for Uplifting Children (VOUCH) from 1994 to 1996. It was there that he met Edward Seaga, at that time the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). During his time at VOUCH, Holness completed a Master of Science (MSc) degree in development studies at the University of the West Indies.[6][7] Holness joined the Premium Group of Companies, led by Seaga, and worked as his special assistant and financial manager.[8]

In 2024, Holness completed a doctor of law and policy degree at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, a type of professional doctorate.[9] His thesis focused on the impact of American gun laws on violence in Jamaican society.[10]

Political career

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Holness joined the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in 1992, and became actively involved from 1993, while a student at the University of the West Indies. Holness was first elected to the Jamaican parliament in the 1997 general election as the member of parliament for Saint Andrew West Central, representing the JLP.

The election in the constituency was, principally, between Holness and Warren Blake, representing the People's National Party (PNP). The initial result was very close, although by the end Holness was declared the victor. The PNP lodged allegations of tampering with the Constituted Authority, part of the electoral regulation system in Jamaica.[6] Holness was sworn in as member of parliament on 24 February 1998, delayed by a magisterial recount. On 5 March 1998, he lost the seat, as the Election Court had ordered a re-election.[11] In April, Blake won the re-election, but due to irregularities in a group of four polling stations at Taylor Basic School, the JLP lodged allegations with the Constituted Authority, who agreed to run a re-election in those polling stations.[12] In the ensuing re-election, Holness won, and he was sworn in a second time as MP in July 1998.[13]

After his election, Morris Cargill commented: "I am glad that Andrew Holness won, not out of any narrow political bias, but because it would be good for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to have a new young man in its ranks."[14] Shortly after entering the house, Holness was appointed as the opposition spokesperson on land, development, and housing, and he became a member of the economy and production and infrastructure and physical development committees.[15][16]

In 1997, he became a 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.

Minister of Education

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Holness became Minister of Education in the cabinet of Bruce Golding in 2007.

Prime Minister of Jamaica

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He succeeded Bruce Golding as both leader of the JLP and prime minister on 23 October 2011, making him the ninth person to hold the office. As prime minister, he chose to retain the education portfolio. In February 2023, a commission cleared him of corruption allegations of which he was accused.[17]

2011 elections

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Main article: 2011 Jamaican general election

On 5 December 2011, Holness called an election set for 29 December 2011. The JLP campaigned in its strongholds, and Holness highlighted the accomplishments during the four years of JLP government, such as economic growth and crime reduction, which the JLP said the PNP failed to do during its own eighteen years' rule of the country.

The JLP, however, lost the election to the PNP, which gained a large majority of 42 to the JLP's 21 parliamentary seats. Portia Simpson-Miller and the PNP returned to power. The voter turnout was 53.17%.[18]

2016 elections and re-appointment as Prime Minister

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Main article: 2016 Jamaican general election

On 25 February 2016, the JLP won the 2016 election winning 32 seats compared to 31 seats for the incumbent PNP. His wife Juliet also won a seat in parliament, the first time a prime minister or opposition leader and their spouse sat simultaneously in the Parliament of Jamaica.[19] As a result, Simpson-Miller became Opposition Leader for a second time. The voter turnout dipped below 50% for the first time, registering just 48.37%.[20]

2020 elections

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Main article: 2020 Jamaican general election

On 3 September 2020, Holness led the JLP to a second consecutive general election victory, but this time by a much larger margin. The JLP won 49 seats, as compared to the 14 seats for the PNP. However, the turnout was just 37%, probably affected by the coronavirus pandemic. With this victory, he became the youngest person in Jamaica's history to be elected twice.[21] He was sworn in for another term on 7 September 2020.[22][23][24]

Republicanism

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During the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's tour of Jamaica in March 2022, on behalf of the Jamaican monarch,[25] Queen Elizabeth II, and as part of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of her accession, Holness told the royal couple that their nation was "moving on and we intend to attain in short order our development goals and fulfil our true ambitions as an independent, developed, prosperous country".[26]

Personal life

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In 1997 he married Juliet Holness (née Landell), an accountant, whom he had met as a student at St. Catherine High School during the 1980s.[27][28] The couple have two children, Adam and Matthew.[29]

He is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.[30]

Andrew Holness meeting with United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken on 1 April 2022

Honours

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National honours

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Foreign honours

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Journey Begins - Portia Sworn In". Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  2. ^ "Holness to be sworn in as prime minister on Monday afternoon". www.loopjamaica.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2020.
  3. ^ Robinson, Claude (23 October 2011). "When Andrew Holness becomes prime minister today". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  4. ^ a b "Andrew Holness - youngest man in the polls". The Daily Gleaner. 8 December 1997. p. 40.
  5. ^ "The Andrew Holness I went to school with …". Jamaica Observer. 8 October 2011. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "JLP gets another seat". The Daily Gleaner. 29 December 1997. p. 1.
  7. ^ Poyser, Andre (2 March 2016). "Andrew Holness The Protege: Former Prime Minister, Edward Seaga Reflects on Holness's Journey to Jamaica House". The Daily Gleaner. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  8. ^ "JLP Candidate". The Daily Gleaner. 24 October 1997. p. 10.
  9. ^ "College of Professional Studies: Law and Policy". Northeastern University Graduate Studies. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  10. ^ McLeod, Sheri-kae (12 September 2024). "Jamaica's PM Andrew Holness earns PhD in Law and Policy". Caribbean National Weekly. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  11. ^ "March 26 for re-election". The Daily Gleaner. 10 March 1998. p. 1.
  12. ^ "Re-election of the re-election?". The Daily Gleaner. 8 April 1998. p. 1.
  13. ^ "Holness wins, again!". The Daily Gleaner. 1 July 1998. p. 1.
  14. ^ Cargill, Morris (12 July 1998). "Settling troubles in Guyana". The Daily Gleaner. p. 17.
  15. ^ Edwards, Claudienne (24 June 1998). "'LIFF accounts problematic' - Douglas". The Daily Gleaner. p. 8.
  16. ^ Wint, Carl (9 July 1998). "House passes Investment Fund Act". The Daily Gleaner. p. 14.
  17. ^ "Jamaica PM will not face corruption charges - watchdog". Reuters. 16 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  18. ^ Caribbean Elections: Jamaican Election Centre, "Jamaican general election results 29 December 2011" http://www.caribbeanelections.com/jm/elections/jm_results_2011.asp Archived 8 December 2020 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  19. ^ "Juliet joins husband Andrew in Parliament - News". JamaicaObserver.com. 26 February 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  20. ^ Caribbean Elections: Jamaican Election Centre, "Jamaican general election results 25 February 2016" http://www.caribbeanelections.com/jm/elections/jm_results_2016.asp Archived 31 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 24 December 2020.
  21. ^ Charles, Jacqueline (3 September 2020). "Prime Minister Andrew Holness and Jamaica Labor Party retain power in 'tsunami victory'". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  22. ^ "Swearing in ceremony for Holness set for Monday". jamaica-star.com. 5 September 2020. Archived from the original on 6 September 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  23. ^ "Holness to be sworn in as prime minister on Monday afternoon". www.loopjamaica.com. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
  24. ^ "WATCH: Holness sworn in as prime minister for a third time". Loop News Jamaica. 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  25. ^ "Full Text—Prince William expresses profound sorrow for slavery", The Gleaner, 23 March 2022, retrieved 19 August 2022
  26. ^ Gentleman, Amelia; Wolfe-Robinson, Maya; Chappell, Kate (23 March 2022). "Jamaica's PM tells Kate and William his country is 'moving on'". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  27. ^ Husey-Whyte, Donna (13 November 2011). "The PM's wife Juliet Holness speaks of life, love and family". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  28. ^ Ellington, Barbara (20 November 2011). "Juliet Holness; Jamaica is safe in Andrew's hands". The Gleaner. Archived from the original on 2 December 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2015.
  29. ^ "Mr. Andrew Michael Holness, M.P. Opposition Leader". Jamaica Information Service. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
  30. ^ "Andrew Holness 'sworn-in' as Jamaica's new Prime Minister – Dominica News Online". Dominicanewsonline.com. 24 October 2011. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
  31. ^ Andrew Holness appointed Prime Minister
  32. ^ PM Holness and Dominican Republic President conferred national honours
  33. ^ Tilbrook, Richard (26 May 2021). "ORDERS APPROVED AND BUSINESS TRANSACTED AT THE PRIVY COUNCIL HELD BY THE QUEEN AT WINDSOR CASTLE ON 26TH MAY 2021" (PDF). The Privy Council Office. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
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Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Education
2007–2012 		Succeeded by
Ronald Thwaites
Preceded by Prime Minister of Jamaica
2011–2012 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition
2012–2016
Prime Minister of Jamaica
2016–present 		Incumbent
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party
2011–present 		Incumbent
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