Holness, Andrew

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Andrew Holness, 1972–, Jamaican politician, prime minister of Jamaica (2011–12). A member of the Jamaica Labor party (JLP), Holness served (1996–2000) as special assistant to Prime Minister Edward Seaga, who became his political mentor. In 1997 he was elected to parliament, and from 1999 he held posts in the JLP shadow cabinet. When the JLP won the 2007 elections, he became education minister, overseeing the introduction of educational reforms. In 2011 Bruce Golding stepped down as prime minister and JLP leader, and Holness succeeded him in both posts, but the JLP lost power in a snap election at the end of the year.