Andrew Holness facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Honourable
Andrew Holness
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![]() Holness in 2020
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9th Prime Minister of Jamaica | |
Assumed office 3 March 2016 |
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Monarch | Elizabeth II Charles III |
Deputy | Horace Chang |
Governor-General | Sir Patrick Allen |
Preceded by | Portia Simpson-Miller |
In office 23 October 2011 – 5 January 2012 |
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Monarch | Elizabeth II |
Deputy | Kenneth Baugh |
Governor-General | Sir Patrick Allen |
Preceded by | Bruce Golding |
Succeeded by | Portia Simpson-Miller |
Leader of the Opposition | |
In office 5 January 2012 – 3 March 2016 |
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Prime Minister | Portia Simpson-Miller |
Preceded by | Portia Simpson-Miller |
Succeeded by | Portia Simpson-Miller |
Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party | |
Assumed office 20 November 2011 |
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Preceded by | Bruce Golding |
Minister of Education | |
In office 11 September 2007 – 1 January 2012 |
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Prime Minister | Bruce Golding Himself |
Preceded by | Maxine Henry-Wilson |
Succeeded by | Ronald Thwaites |
Personal details | |
Born |
Andrew Michael Holness
22 July 1972 Spanish Town, St. Catherine, Jamaica |
Political party | Jamaica Labour |
Spouse |
Juliet Landell
(m. 1997) |
Children | 2 |
Education | St. Catherine High School |
Alma mater | University of the West Indies, Mona (BSc, MSc) Northeastern University (DLP) |
Andrew Michael Holness was born on 22 July 1972. He is a Jamaican politician. Since March 2016, he has been the Prime Minister of Jamaica. He also leads the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).
Holness was also Prime Minister for a short time from October 2011 to January 2012. He took over from Bruce Golding. After losing the 2011 election, he became the Leader of the Opposition. In March 2016, he became Prime Minister again. In 2020, his party won another big election. He was sworn in for a new term on 7 September 2020.
In October 2011, Holness became the youngest Prime Minister in Jamaica's history at 39 years old. In March 2016, at 43, he became the youngest person to be elected Prime Minister. He is also the first Prime Minister born after Jamaica became independent in 1962. He is currently the longest-serving Prime Minister from the Jamaica Labour Party.
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Early Life and Education
Andrew Holness grew up in Ensom City, Spanish Town. He went to St. Catherine High School. At school, he was good at debating. He became the head boy and the top student. After high school, he taught there for a year.
At 19, he started studying at the University of the West Indies, Mona. He earned a degree in management studies.
After university, Holness worked for a group called Voluntary Organization for Uplifting Children (VOUCH). This was from 1994 to 1996. While there, he met Edward Seaga, who was the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Holness also earned a Master of Science degree in development studies from the University of the West Indies. Later, he worked for Seaga as a special assistant.
In 2024, Holness earned a special law degree from Northeastern University in Boston, USA. His studies focused on how American gun laws affect violence in Jamaica.
Political Career
Holness joined the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in 1992. He became very active in the party from 1993. In 1997, he was first elected to the Jamaican parliament. He represented the area of Saint Andrew West Central.
His first election was very close. After some legal challenges, he was sworn in as a Member of Parliament in July 1998. After joining parliament, Holness became a spokesperson for the opposition. He focused on land, development, and housing.
From 1999 to 2002, he was the Opposition Spokesperson on Land and Development. In 2002, he changed his focus to Housing. Then in 2005, he became the spokesperson for Education.
Minister of Education
In 2007, Holness became the Minister of Education. He served in the cabinet of Prime Minister Bruce Golding.
Prime Minister of Jamaica
On 23 October 2011, Holness became the leader of the JLP. He also became the Prime Minister, the ninth person to hold this job. As Prime Minister, he continued to oversee the education area. In February 2023, a group looked into some claims against him and found him innocent.
2011 Elections
On 5 December 2011, Holness called for an election to be held on 29 December 2011. The JLP talked about their achievements. They mentioned economic growth and less crime. They said the other party, the PNP, had not done as well.
However, the JLP lost the election to the People's National Party (PNP). The PNP won many more seats in parliament. Portia Simpson-Miller and the PNP then came back into power. About 53% of voters took part in this election.
2016 Elections and Re-appointment
On 25 February 2016, the JLP won the 2016 election. They won 32 seats, just one more than the PNP's 31 seats. Holness's wife, Juliet, also won a seat in parliament. This was the first time a Prime Minister and their spouse were both in parliament. Voter turnout was lower this time, at about 48%.
2020 Elections
On 3 September 2020, Holness led the JLP to win another election. This time, they won by a much larger amount. The JLP got 49 seats, while the PNP got only 14. However, fewer people voted, possibly because of the coronavirus pandemic. Only about 37% of voters took part. With this win, Holness became the youngest person in Jamaica to be elected Prime Minister twice. He started his new term on 7 September 2020.
Republicanism
In March 2022, Prince William and Princess Catherine visited Jamaica. Holness told them that Jamaica was moving towards becoming a fully independent country. He said Jamaica wanted to achieve its goals as a developed and successful nation.
Personal Life
In 1997, Andrew Holness married Juliet Holness (whose maiden name was Landell). She is an accountant. They met when they were students at St. Catherine High School in the 1980s. They have two children, Adam and Matthew.
He is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Honours
National Honours
Foreign Honours
Dominican Republic:
United Kingdom:
- 26 May 2021: Member of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council (PC)
See Also
In Spanish: Andrew Holness para niños
- Cabinet of Jamaica