Juliet Holness
Juliet Holness | |
|---|---|
Holness in 2016 | |
| Speaker of the House of Representatives | |
| Assumed office 26 September 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert |
| Member of Parliament | |
| Assumed office 3 March 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Damion Crawford |
| Constituency | St. Andrew East Rural |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Juliet Ann Marie Landell July 16, 1971 St. Catherine Parish, Jamaica |
| Party | Jamaica Labour Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Juliet Ann Marie Holness (née Landell; born July 16, 1971) is a Jamaican politician, who currently serves as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Member for Saint Andrew East Rural. She is married to Andrew Holness, the Prime Minister of Jamaica.[1]
Early life and education
Holness was born in Spanish Town, St. Catherine to Stephen and Alverga Landell members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, she is the oldest child of six.[2][3] She attended St. Catherine High School and pursued Sixth form studies at Wolmers' Girls' School. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in accounting and economics, and a master's degree in accounting, both degrees from the University of the West Indies, Mona.[4]
Professional career
Holness' first full-time job after graduating was with KPMG, a multinational professional services and accounting firm. Speaking in 2021, she said: "I got a promotion about every six months, which was unprecedented, because I saw the company as my company. I was always very aggressive about collecting their money."[5]
In 1997, she joined PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and worked her way up to the role of senior auditor before leaving when she was pregnant with her first child. Afterwards, she worked for a period as an accountant for Jamaica Biscuit Company.[5]
Holness was also a fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. She has also worked as a freelance accounting consultant, real estate developer, and financial controller.[4][6]
Political career
After her husband, became Prime Minister of Jamaica in 2016, Holness announced the launch of the Save Our Boys Foundation, which was aimed at helping street boys.[7]
Holness was elected to Parliament in 2016 and was re-elected in 2020 and 2025. In 2023, she was elected Speaker.[8]
Personal life
In 1997 she married Andrew Holness, whom she had met as a student at St. Catherine High School during the 1980s.[9] They have two sons, Adam born in 2002 and Matthew born in 2004.[3]
References
- ^ "Jamaica's Prime Minister and wife celebrate 24th wedding anniversary". Jamaica Observer. 2021-07-20. Retrieved 2023-06-27.
- ^ "Members of Parliament". www.japarliament.gov.jm. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ a b "Juliet Holness Speaks on: Family, Marriage, Children & Politics". Buzzz Caribbean Lifestyle Magazine. June 14, 2016. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
- ^ a b "HE Mrs. Juliet Holness Jamaica". SCLAN. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ a b Knight, Candiece (2021-03-08). "IWD 2021: Juliet Holness – Challenge accepted - All Woman". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ "Juliet Holness:Jamaica is safe in Andrew's hands". Jamaica Gleaner. 2011-11-20. Retrieved 2024-04-24.
- ^ "PM's wife to launch ambitious project". Jamaica Gleaner. 2011-11-13. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
- ^ "Juliet Holness elected House Speaker". Jamaica Gleaner. 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2023-09-26.
- ^ Hussey-Whyte, Donna. "The PM's wife". Jamaica Observer. Archived from the original on 25 January 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2020.