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Andrew Holness
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Andrew Holness
Andrew Michael Holness, ON PC MP (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. 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.
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 head of government to receive a doctorate degree while serving in office, at present, the only currently serving head of state to have completed a doctorate degree while serving in office. He is 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.
In 1997, Holness described his father as "a thinker and an academic socialist" and his mother as "pragmatic and frugal." 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. 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.
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. Holness joined the Premium Group of Companies, led by Seaga, and worked as his special assistant and financial manager.
In 2024, Holness completed a Doctor of Law and Policy degree at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, a type of professional doctorate. His thesis focused on the impact of American gun laws on violence in Jamaican society.
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 announced as the JLP candidate in St Andrew West Central constituency in October 1997, ahead of the 1997 general election in December. He was the youngest candidate in the election, at age 25. In his constituency, he was running against Warren Blake of the People's National Party (PNP) and Steve Daley of the National Democratic Movement (NDM). After the initial count, Holness was the projected winner of the seat. However, when the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) released the full results in late December, they did not announce a winner in St Andrew West Central, as there were several irregularities, including missing boxes of vote and ballots spoiled after the initial count. On 28 December, Holness was declared winner of the seat, although the matter was not considered settled. 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, which was held on 26 March.
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Andrew Holness
Andrew Michael Holness, ON PC MP (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. 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.
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 head of government to receive a doctorate degree while serving in office, at present, the only currently serving head of state to have completed a doctorate degree while serving in office. He is 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.
In 1997, Holness described his father as "a thinker and an academic socialist" and his mother as "pragmatic and frugal." 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. 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.
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. Holness joined the Premium Group of Companies, led by Seaga, and worked as his special assistant and financial manager.
In 2024, Holness completed a Doctor of Law and Policy degree at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, a type of professional doctorate. His thesis focused on the impact of American gun laws on violence in Jamaican society.
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 announced as the JLP candidate in St Andrew West Central constituency in October 1997, ahead of the 1997 general election in December. He was the youngest candidate in the election, at age 25. In his constituency, he was running against Warren Blake of the People's National Party (PNP) and Steve Daley of the National Democratic Movement (NDM). After the initial count, Holness was the projected winner of the seat. However, when the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) released the full results in late December, they did not announce a winner in St Andrew West Central, as there were several irregularities, including missing boxes of vote and ballots spoiled after the initial count. On 28 December, Holness was declared winner of the seat, although the matter was not considered settled. 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, which was held on 26 March.
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