Dr The Most Honourable
Andrew Michael Holness ON, PC, MP
Minister of Economic Growth and Job Creation
The Most Honourable Andrew Michael Holness, born on July 22, 1972, in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, is Jamaica’s 9th Prime Minister and is the youngest Jamaican to serve in this position. His early leadership was evident at St. Catherine High School, where he served as Head Boy, President of the Chess Club, and Valedictorian. The Prime Minister holds a Doctor of Law and Policy from the Northeastern University and is an alumnus of the University of the West Indies, where he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Studies and a Master of Science degree in Development Studies.
Prime Minister Holness began his career in the non-profit sector as Executive Director of the Voluntary Organization for the Upliftment of Children (VOUCH) before transitioning to the private sector. At the age of 25, he became the youngest Jamaican ever elected as a Member of Parliament. This year marks 27 years of his continuous public service, representing the people of St. Andrew West Central.
In 2011, Prime Minister Holness set a new milestone by becoming Jamaica’s youngest Prime Minister and the firstborn after the country’s independence in 1962. Although his initial term was brief, he was elected in 2016 at age 44, becoming the youngest to be elected to the office. In 2020, Holness led the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to a decisive victory, securing a second term as Prime Minister and reinforcing his leadership on both national and international fronts.
As the head of the executive branch of government, Holness heads the Cabinet and oversees a number of key portfolio areas, including defence and economic growth and job creation, encompassing housing, water, climate change, and works. He has demonstrated his faithful commitment to creating a new Jamaica that is technologically advanced, fiscally responsible, and driven by infrastructure development, socio-cultural reform, and national resilience. His vision includes peace, productivity, and prosperity for all Jamaicans, laying the foundation for a future where every citizen can thrive in a secure and flourishing nation.
Before becoming Prime Minister, Holness made significant strides in transforming Jamaica’s education system as Minister of Education. He focused on improving literacy rates and universal access to quality education. Holness established key initiatives to elevate educational standards, support disadvantaged students, and ensure that every student had the opportunity for a better education.
Now in his second consecutive term as Prime Minister, Holness has led Jamaica through a period of remarkable economic resurgence. Under his leadership, the country has achieved record job creation, reducing unemployment to an all-time low of 4.2%. His administration’s prudent fiscal measures, including tax reductions, raising the income tax threshold, and lowering the national debt to its lowest level in 30 years, have strengthened the economy and eased financial burdens on citizens. To enhance economic resilience, Holness has established fiscal safeguards, such as disaster insurance and a natural disaster fund, making Jamaica the first small island state to independently sponsor a catastrophe bond, ensuring continued stability and growth.
Prime Minister Holness has presided over the most significant capital investments in Jamaica’s history in public utilities and social infrastructure, including water, roads, public transportation and sewage treatment. His administration has also undertaken significant upgrades and construction of highways, roadways, police stations, fire stations, and markets, transforming the country’s infrastructure. In the health sector, the Holness administration has overseen the construction and renovation of more hospitals and community health centers than any previous administration, vastly improving access to healthcare.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has positioned Jamaica as a regional and global leader in climate action. He has implemented several environmental policies, including the designation of protected areas to conserve natural ecosystems, the ban on single-use plastics, and significant investments in renewable energy. On the international stage, Holness has been a strong advocate for small island developing states, emphasizing the need for accessible and flexible climate finance, the creation of a global disaster fund, and innovative risk-informed financing. These initiatives collectively highlight his administration’s commitment to sustainable development and its influential role in international climate efforts.
In recognition of Prime Minister Holness’s contributions to the development of Jamaica, he was inscribed on the Roll of Honour in 2017 at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Park, which honours UWI graduates who are Heads of Government. In 2024, he received an honorary doctorate from Delaware State University in the United States for outstanding service to Jamaica.
Prime Minister Holness is married to the Most Honorable Juliet Holness, who serves as Speaker of the House of Representatives. He is the first Jamaican Prime Minister whose wife also serves the nation as a Member of Parliament, representing the constituency of East Rural St. Andrew. They have two sons, Adam and Matthew. In his leisure time, Holness enjoys chess, jogging, cycling, and table tennis, and he has a deep appreciation for Jamaica’s rich musical heritage. Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s leadership continues to redefine Jamaica’s trajectory of development, leaving an enduring legacy of transformation, resilience, and a bold vision that inspires hope for future generations.