Andrew Holness
| The Most Honourable Andrew Holness ON, MP | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 9th Prime Minister of Jamaica | |
|
Assumed office 3 March 2016 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor General | Patrick Allen |
| Preceded by | 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 (2007-2011) Himself (2011-2012) |
| Preceded by | Maxine Henry-Wilson |
| Succeeded by | Ronald Thwaites |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Andrew Michael Holness 22 July 1972 Spanish Town, Jamaica |
| Political party | Jamaica Labour Party |
| Spouse(s) | Juliet Holness (1997–present) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of the West Indies |
| Religion | Seventh-day Adventist |
Andrew Michael Holness, ON, MP (born 22 July 1972) is a Jamaican politician who has been the Prime Minister of Jamaica since 3 March 2016, following the 25 February 2016 general elections.[1] Holness previously served as Prime Minister from October 2011 to January 5, 2012. He succeeded Bruce Golding as Prime Minister and decided to go to the polls in the 29 December 2011 general elections in a bid to get his own mandate from the Jamaican electorate. He failed in that bid, however, losing badly to the Portia Simpson Miller-led People's National Party, 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.[2]
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 in 1962.[3]
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.[4] In 1997, he married Juliet Holness (née Landell), an accountant, whom he had met as student at St. Catherine High School during the 1980s.[5][6] The couple have two children, Adam and Andrew Jr.[7]
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.[8]
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 with the Jamaican Labour Party winning 32 seats compared to 31 seats for the incumbent People's National Party. His wife Juliet also won a seat in parliament, the first time a Prime Minister or Opposition Leader and his/her spouse will be sitting in the Parliament of Jamaica together.[9]
See also
References
- ↑ Holness Sworn In As PM, Takes 'The Most Honourable' Title. 3 March 2016. Accessed 3 March 2016.
- ↑ "Journey Begins - Portia Sworn In". Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
- ↑ Robinson, Claude (23 October 2011). "When Andrew Holness becomes prime minister today". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
- ↑ "The Honourable Andrew Holness". Archived from the original on 8 November 2011. Retrieved 10 November 2011.
- ↑ Husey-Whyte, Donna (2011-11-13). "The PM's wife Juliet Holness speaks of life, love and family". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2015-08-09.
- ↑ Ellington, Barbara (2011-11-20). "Juliet Holness; Jamaica is safe in Andrew's hands". The Gleaner. Retrieved 2015-08-09.
- ↑ "Mr. Andrew Michael Holness, M.P. Opposition Leader". Jamaica Information Service. Retrieved 8 January 2016.
- ↑ Name * (2011-10-24). "Andrew Holness 'sworn-in' as Jamaica's new Prime Minister – Dominica News Online". Dominicanewsonline.com. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
- ↑ "Juliet joins husband Andrew in Parliament - News". JamaicaObserver.com. 2016-02-26. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
External links
 |
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Andrew Holness. |
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Maxine Henry-Wilson |
Minister of Education 2007–2012 |
Succeeded by Ronald Thwaites |
| Preceded by Bruce Golding Portia Simpson-Miller |
Prime Minister of Jamaica 2011–2012 2016–present |
Succeeded by Portia Simpson-Miller Incumbent |
| Preceded by Portia Simpson-Miller |
Leader of the Opposition 2012–2016 |
Succeeded by Portia Simpson-Miller |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by Bruce Golding |
Leader of the Labour Party 2011–present |
Incumbent |
 |  | ||
† Served as Chief Minister of Jamaica. ‡ Served as Premier of Jamaica. | |||