News Americas, KINGSTON, Jamaica, Thurs. Oct. 6, 2011: A University of the West Indies graduate and former director of a voluntary organization could soon be leading Jamaica.
Jamaica’s Minister of Education, Andrew Holness, is seemingly set to take the reins from PM Bruce Golding, who last month announced his resignation from the office on PM due to pressures over the extradition of Christopher “Dudus” Coke.
Holness has so far been endorsed for the leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) by his main challengers and parliamentary colleagues, a move that means he will be the next prime minister of the Caribbean island.
Holness served as Executive Director in the Voluntary Organization for Uplifting Children from 1994 to 1996. He then joined the Premium Group of Companies and functioned as a special assistant to former Prime Minister, Edward Seaga.
In 1997, the St. Catherine alum became Member of Parliament for West Central St. Andrew and served as opposition spokesperson on land and development from 1999 to 2002. In 2002 he switched portfolio to housing and then education in 2005 and in 2007, he was sworn in as minister of education.
