
In 2005 Holness was asked by the new leader of the JLP, Bruce Golding, to take on the topical issue of education. He is seen as a man of the people, empathetic and devoted to the people’s interest.ĭuring his years in the Opposition he shadowed several portfolios in the areas of social welfare, community development and housing. He therefore has demonstrated a deep and genuine understanding of the hopes and challenges of the Jamaican people and has developed a strong and direct link with the Jamaican masses. His strength is that he chose from early in his life to work from within the political system. He has worked at all levels of the political system, and has patiently garnered significant knowledge and political capital. Holness has carried the hopes and dreams of many Jamaicans that a new, inclusive, prospective politics will emerge in Jamaican society. Since his formal entry onto Jamaica's political landscape, Mr. Holness, in addition to the enforcement of new electoral laws that allowed that goodwill to be freely and fairly expressed. This was due mainly to the determination and political goodwill developed by Mr.
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It was a watershed in the dismantling of garrison politics and a positive step in establishing free, fair and free from fear elections in Jamaica. Holness' election was a landmark case in Jamaican electoral law. Andrew constituency he now represents, only three months before the December 1997 General Elections.

Holness in a position to take advantage of an opening in the St. The knowledge, exposure and experience gained from working in the social sector, combined with his youth and natural political savvy, placed Mr. Soon thereafter representational politics beckoned. Edward Seaga, to assume duties as personal assistant in his office and was assigned the responsibility of developing poverty reduction and social investment policies for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). In 1995 he was invited by the then Leader of the Opposition, the Most Hon. Holness worked as the executive director of one of Jamaica's oldest NGOs, the Voluntary Organization for Uplifting Children (VOUCH) and in that capacity, led extensive social work in several inner city communities of Kingston. Prior to entering representational politics, Mr. 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. However, Andrew's mother, who is a civil servant, insisted that her son would be his own independent person and instilled an early sense of discipline, caution, frugality and humility, which have pervaded the form of leadership and public persona for which he is now known.Īndrew Holness is a graduate of the St. Indeed several analysts have compared him in style to Michael Manley. Michael Manley's rise and victory at the polls that same year. If his father who is a farmer and an espoused socialist from that era had his way, Andrew would have been named Michael in honour of former Prime Minister the Most Hon. He is also the second shortest serving Prime Minister in Jamaica (Sir Donald Sangster being the shortest) as well as the Caribbean.Īndrew Michael Holness was born to working class parents on 22 July 1972 in Spanish Town. Holness was the youngest person to become Prime Minister in Jamaica's history, as well as the country's ninth Prime Minister overall.

He has served as Leader of the Opposition since 2012. Shortly after taking office, he led his party, the Jamaica Labour Party, to defeat in the December 2011 general election. He previously served as the Minister of Education from 2007 to 2012. The Most Honourable Andrew Michael Holness, ON, MPĪndrew Michael Holness is a Jamaican politician who was Prime Minister of Jamaica from October 2011 to January 2012. Together, these ten (10) Jamaican Prime Ministers have contributed to the 50 year growth of this nation in one way or the other.Caribbean Elections Biography | Andrewl Holness She was conferred with the honour of the Order of the Nation in May 2006.

She has served for over 17 years as a cabinet Minister with portfolio responsibility for the Ministries of Labour and Social Security, Local Government, Tourism, Community Development and Sport, at different times. Portia Simpson Miller was installed for the second time as Prime Minister following the victory of the People's National Party (PNP) in the December elections. She is also currently our present Prime Minister taking office on January 05, 2012. She is Jamaica's seventh Prime Minister serving from Mato September 10, 2007. Portia Simpson-Miller She is The Most Honourable Portia Simpson Miller, O.N., M.P.
