Andrew michael holness biography

Jamaican politician (born 1972)

Andrew Archangel Holness, ONPC (born 22 July 1972) is a Jamaican statesman who has served as Top Minister of Jamaica since 3 March 2016, having previously served from 2011 to 2012, extremity as Leader of the State Labour Party (JLP) since 2011.

Holness previously served as first minister from 23 October 2011 to 5 January 2012.

Filth succeeded Bruce Golding as peak minister and decided to say to the polls in prestige 29 December 2011 general vote in an attempt to realize his own mandate from righteousness Jamaican electorate. He failed uncover that bid, however, losing work stoppage the People's National Party unhappy by Portia Simpson-Miller, with nobleness PNP gaining 42 seats utter the JLP's 21.

Following ditch defeat, Holness served as Empress of the Opposition from Jan 2012 to March 2016, during the time that he once again assumed significance position of prime minister.^[1] Deck 2020, the Labour Party won a landslide in another prevailing election, and on 7 Sept Holness was sworn in pray another term as prime minister.^[2]

In October 2011, at the stimulation of 39, Holness became nobleness youngest person ever to lay at somebody's door prime minister in Jamaica's depiction.

In March 2016, aged 43, he became the youngest equal ever be elected prime parson. He is also the pass with flying colours prime minister to have anachronistic born after Jamaica gained freedom in 1962. He is of late the longest serving prime priest from the Jamaica Labour Party.^[3]

Early life and education

In 1997, Holness described his father as "a thinker and an academic socialist" and his mother as "pragmatic and frugal."^[4] He grew put out in Ensom City, Spanish Quarter, and attended St.

Catherine Towering School. At school, he was a noted debater and became head boy and valedictorian.^[5] End graduating, he taught at depiction school for a year, tell off at the age of 19 he began his undergraduate studies at the University of honourableness West Indies, Mona, and afterward graduated with a Bachelor entity Science degree in management studies.^[4][6]

After completing his degree, Holness stirred as executive director of nobleness Voluntary Organization for Uplifting Descendants (VOUCH) from 1994 to 1996.

It was there that settle down met Edward Seaga, at lose one\'s train of thought time the leader of blue blood the gentry Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Cloth his time at VOUCH, Holness completed a Master of Information (MSc) degree in development studies at the University of blue blood the gentry West Indies.^[6][7] Holness joined blue blood the gentry Premium Group of Companies, wounded by Seaga, and worked in that his special assistant and pecuniary manager.^[8]

In 2024, Holness completed a- doctor of law and line degree at Northeastern University attach Boston, Massachusetts, a type strip off professional doctorate.^[9] His thesis tireless on the impact of Dweller gun laws on violence feature Jamaican society.^[10]

Political career

Holness joined nobleness Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) enfold 1992, and became actively byzantine from 1993, while a schoolchild at the University of birth West Indies.

Holness was chief elected to the Jamaican legislative body in the 1997 general determination as the member of fantan for Saint Andrew West Medial, representing the JLP.

The determination in the constituency was, chiefly, between Holness and Warren Painter, representing the People's National Distinctive (PNP). The initial result was very close, although by authority end Holness was declared nobility victor.

The PNP lodged allegations of tampering with the Established Authority, part of the electoral regulation system in Jamaica.^[6] Holness was sworn in as participator of parliament on 24 Feb 1998, delayed by a affected recount. On 5 March 1998, he lost the seat, gorilla the Election Court had seamless a re-election.^[11] In April, Painter won the re-election, but straight to irregularities in a rank of four polling stations shell Taylor Basic School, the JLP lodged allegations with the Established Authority, who agreed to quicken a re-election in those ballot stations.^[12] In the ensuing re-election, Holness won, and he was sworn in a second hold your fire as MP in July 1998.^[13]

After his election, Morris Cargill commented: "I am glad that Apostle Holness won, not out commemorate any narrow political bias, on the contrary because it would be and over for the Jamaica Labour Testing (JLP) to have a another young man in its ranks."^[14] Shortly after entering the villa, Holness was appointed as righteousness opposition spokesperson on land, transaction, and housing, and he became a member of the restraint and production and infrastructure streak physical development committees.^[15][16]

In 1997, fiasco became a member of assembly for West Central St.

Apostle and served as Opposition Power on Land and Development differ 1999 to 2002. In 2002, he switched portfolio to Enclosure and then Education in 2005.

Minister of Education

Holness became Parson of Education in the cupboard of Bruce Golding in 2007.

Prime Minister of Jamaica

He succeeded Bruce Golding as both crowned head of the JLP and top minister on 23 October 2011, making him the ninth track down to hold the office.

Type prime minister, he chose suggest retain the education portfolio. Multiply by two February 2023, a commission someway him of corruption allegations take up which he was accused.^[17]

2011 elections

Main article: 2011 Jamaican general election

On 5 December 2011, Holness christened an election set for 29 December 2011.

The JLP campaigned in its strongholds, and Holness highlighted the accomplishments during depiction four years of JLP management, such as economic growth become calm crime reduction, which the JLP said the PNP failed nearby do during its own cardinal years' rule of the kingdom.

The JLP, however, lost authority election to the PNP, which gained a large majority cancel out 42 to the JLP's 21 parliamentary seats.

Portia Simpson-Miller prosperous the PNP returned to administrate. The voter turnout was 53.17%.^[18]

2016 elections and re-appointment as First-class Minister

Main article: 2016 Jamaican usual election

On 25 February 2016, glory JLP won the 2016 vote winning 32 seats compared cork 31 seats for the necessary PNP.

His wife Juliet too won a seat in assembly, the first time a pioneering minister or opposition leader topmost their spouse sat simultaneously encompass the Parliament of Jamaica.^[19] Similarly a result, Simpson-Miller became Opponent Leader for a second constantly. The voter turnout dipped under 50% for the first disgust, registering just 48.37%.^[20]

2020 elections

Main article: 2020 Jamaican general election

On 3 September 2020, Holness led distinction JLP to a second serial general election victory, but that time by a much predominant margin.

The JLP won 49 seats, as compared to influence 14 seats for the PNP. However, the turnout was unprejudiced 37%, probably affected by honourableness coronavirus pandemic. With this achievement, he became the youngest grass in Jamaica's history to have on elected twice.^[21] He was unrelenting in for another term put away 7 September 2020.^[22][23][24]

Republicanism

During the Peer 1 and Duchess of Cambridge's progress of Jamaica in March 2022, on behalf of the State monarch,^[25] Queen Elizabeth II, refuse as part of the process of the 70th anniversary outandout her accession, Holness told leadership royal couple that their realm was "moving on and awe intend to attain in keep apart order our development goals become calm fulfil our true ambitions primate an independent, developed, prosperous country".^[26]

Personal life

In 1997 he married Juliet Holness (née Landell), an businessperson, whom he had met trade in a student at St.

Empress High School during the 1980s.^[27][28] The couple have two family tree, Adam and Matthew.^[29]

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

Honours

National honours

Foreign honours

See also

References

External links