JLP backs Holness for party leader and PM of Jamaica

Andrew Holness - most likely candidate to be Jamaican PM

Jamaica's governing Jamaica Labour Party announced on Wednesday that it supports Education Minister Andrew Holness as the successor to Prime Minister Bruce Golding, who is stepping down as party leader and Prime Minister.

Golding hinted at that in his nationwide address on Sunday night when he spoke about passing the torch of leadership to a younger generation of leaders. Holness is 39.

The JLP made the announcement at a media conference in Kingston Wednesday morning. The party said it supports Holness at the Parliamentary level but also stated that nominations have not closed.

All four main contenders for the leader - Audley Shaw, Christopher Tufton, Ken Baugh and Robert Montague - publicly declared their support and that of their constituents for Holness.

However party Chairman Mike Henry, who signalled his intent to run for the leadership, was not present at the media conference. If he decides to run he will have an uphill struggle since all the key personnel in the party are backing Holness.

Holness was first elected to Parliament in 1997 at age 25. In opposition he served as the spokesperson on Land and Development from 1999 to 2002. In 2002 he switched portfolio to Housing and then Education in 2005. He was sworn in as Minister of Education in September 2007.