Andrew Michael Holness was yesterday sworn in as Jamaica’s ninth and youngest prime minister and immediately placed at the top of his agenda the dismantling of political garrisons — a moving target for many politicians — and the country’s ballooning debt.
Immediately after taking stewardship of the Government, Holness wasted no time getting down to business as he told the hundreds in attendance at his swearing-in ceremony at King’s House in St Andrew that he has now taken direction of the country.
Holness took over from Bruce Golding, who stepped down Sunday after four years as prime minister in which his popularity sagged over his nine-month opposition to a U.S. extradition request for a notorious gang leader in 2009 and 2010. Holness, who had been education minister, will lead the party into general elections that must be held by December 2012.
Golding shocked many Jamaicans when he announced in late September that he would resign once a new party chief was elected, saying that “the last four years have taken their toll and it was appropriate now to make way for new leadership.”
Labor Party lawmakers unanimously chose Holness as their party’s leader, and he automatically became prime minister.
His Swearing in Ceremony was an atmosphere reminiscent of that seen on political campaign trails, the stately proceedings punctuated by cheers, bells and horns mingled with applause at intervals starting when former prime minister Bruce Golding and spouse Lorna appeared.
The chants of “Bruce, Bruce, Bruce” lasted until they were seated, prompting a standing ovation which started at one end of the crowd and rippled across. When Holness and his radiant wife Juliet appeared it was a chain reaction.
But in the moments after he took the oath of allegiance and the oath of office there was an anticipant, questioning quietness, almost a silent, collective, what next? from the expectant hundreds present.
Yesterday, president of the Olympic Gardens Benevolent Society in Holness’ constituency Christopher Livermore said the answer to that question was in the person of the new prime minister.
“I am definitely elated about the ceremony this afternoon, it promises wonderful things for the people of the country, the breaking down of garrisons, the upliftment in education, partnership with the Opposition, it’s the things we need to lift Jamaica to a higher standard, and I believe we have selected the right person in Mr Andrew Holness to take us to that level,” he told the Observer confidently.
“It’s definitely a new day for our constituency, we are looking forward to working more with him and to do as best as possible,” he said.
Source: Jamaica Observer
