Prime Minister Andrew Holness Unveils New Cabinet, Signals Possible Exit After Current Term

Jamaica Live News Desk– | Sept 17, 2025

Kingston, Jamaica – The new executive of government was officially sworn in on Wednesday at King’s House in St. Andrew, with Prime Minister Andrew Holness presenting a 19-member Cabinet that includes the controversial return of Andrew Wheatley and Robert Montague.

Both men, who previously resigned under clouds of scandal, are back in government for the first time in years.

The Return of Familiar Faces

Andrew Wheatley, who was forced to step down in 2018 as Minister of Energy, Science and Technology amid a corruption scandal involving several agencies under his watch, has now been re-appointed. He will serve as Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, with responsibility for science, technology, and special projects.

Robert Montague, who resigned in March 2022 after an Integrity Commission report found he granted firearm permits to individuals with criminal traces while serving as National Security Minister, is also back. He will serve as Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development, responsible for land titling and settlements.

Wheatley and Montague are the only two new additions to the Holness-led Cabinet, which otherwise retains its previous core membership.

Holness: “Performance Over Promises”

Prime Minister Holness, in remarks shared on social media, emphasized that the new term is not about legacy but about results:

“This Cabinet will be judged by outcomes, not announcements. By results, not rhetoric. Each of you will have clear targets and will be held accountable for meeting them. The trust the Jamaican people have placed in us is sacred. We must guard it carefully, live up to it daily, and never take it for granted.”

Prime Minister Holness stated that his third term will focus on “seamless succession and transition”, balancing continuity with renewal in leadership and governance.
Holness’ remarks about his third term focusing on “seamless succession and transition” strongly suggest that he may be preparing to step aside after this term in office. While he has not made any direct announcement, the language of succession, renewal, and continuity is a clear political signal that he intends to carefully manage the process of handing over leadership.

By framing his role as ensuring balance between continuity and new approaches, Holness appears to be positioning this term as a bridge between his leadership and the next generation, shaping his legacy as one of stability and responsible transition rather than clinging to power.

Full Cabinet in Alphabetical Order

The new Cabinet of Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness is as follows:

• Mr. Edmund Bartlett – Minister of Tourism
• Dr. Horace Chang – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Security and Peace
• Mr. Pearnel Charles Jr. – Minister of Labour and Social Security
• Mr. Delroy Chuck – Minister of Justice, Legal and Constitutional Affairs
• Senator Dana Morris Dixon – Minister of Education, Skills, Youth and Information
• Mr. Floyd Green – Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining
• Ms. Olivia Grange – Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment, and Sport
• Senator Aubyn Hill – Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce
• Senator Kamina Johnson Smith – Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade
• Ms. Audrey Marks – Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for Efficiency, Innovation and Digital Transformation
• Mr. Desmond McKenzie – Minister of Local Government and Rural Development
• Mr. Robert Montague – Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development responsible for Land Titling and Settlements
• Mr. Robert Morgan – Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development responsible for Works
• Dr. the Most Honourable Andrew Holness – Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Minister of Economic Growth and Infrastructure Development
• Mr. Matthew Samuda – Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change
• Dr. Christopher Tufton – Minister of Health and Wellness
• Mr. Daryl Vaz – Minister of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy
• Mr. Andrew Wheatley – Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister responsible for Science, Technology and Special Projects
• Mrs. Fayval Williams – Minister of Finance and the Public Service

Andrew Michael Holness, the proud son of Spanish Town, St. Catherine, has carved a historic path in Jamaican politics. He first made history in 2011 when, at just 39 years old, he became Jamaica’s ninth and youngest Prime Minister following the resignation of Bruce Golding, serving from October 2011 to January 2012. Notably, he is also the first Prime Minister born in Jamaica’s post-Independence era, having been born ten years after the nation gained independence in 1962.

A five-term Member of Parliament, Holness entered politics at the age of 20 and, at 25, became the youngest MP of his time when he won the West Central St. Andrew seat in 1997, a seat he continues to represent. Mentored by former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, Holness built his early career as Opposition Spokesperson on portfolios such as Land and Development, Housing, and Education, while successfully defending his constituency seat in the 2002 general elections. Now 53 years old, with over three decades of political experience, Holness remains one of Jamaica’s most seasoned and influential leaders.