MP Juliet Holness is New Speaker of the House

Member of Parliament (MP) for St. Andrew East Rural, the Most Hon. Juliet Holness, was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives today (September 26).

She has been elevated from Deputy Speaker of the House and replaces Marisa Dalrymple Philibert, who officially resigned on September 21.

The new Deputy Speaker of the House is Member of Parliament, St. James Central, Heroy Clarke.

Mrs. Holness and Mr. Clarke were the sole nominees for the posts.

In accepting her appointment, Mrs. Holness promised to execute her responsibilities judiciously.

“Let me thank you for the confidence reposed in me to handle the very difficult job of being the Speaker of this Parliament. I accept my responsibility with great humility and I will always endeavour to ensure that I manage with equity, judiciously, balance and always in keeping with the Standing Orders of this noble House,” she said.

Mrs. Holness, who is wife of Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, said she will do her utmost to preserve the dignity of the House.

“It is the beginning of excellent camaraderie when a Member from the Opposition side stands up to second the nomination of the Member from the Government side for Speaker or Deputy Speaker, and I hope as we continue to do our duties on behalf of the people of Jamacia, we will continue to display that type of relationship that keeps our House disciplined and orderly for the benefit of all Jamaicans,” she said.

Mrs. Holness also thanked her predecessor for her service to Jamaica and her guidance, “so that I was fully prepared to take up the mantle”.

Acting Leader of Government Business, Hon. Delroy Chuck, congratulated Mrs. Holness and thanked the members who supported her in becoming the new Speaker of the House.

In wishing her well, he said he has no doubt that her stint as Speaker will be a sterling one.

“I have absolutely no doubt that your competence, your skill, your intelligence will ensure that this Parliament is conducted in an orderly manner and in a way that the Jamaican people can be proud. I have no doubt that your management of this Parliament, as demonstrated when you were Deputy Speaker and also as Chairman of Committee will ensure that meetings are conducted without fear or favour, without bias and also to give the opportunity for all the members to participate and to make their voices heard,” he said.

He thanked the outgoing Speaker and Member of Parliament for Trelawny South for the sterling work she contributed and wished her well.

Leader of Opposition Business in the House, Phillip Paulwell, congratulated the new Speaker on her ascension to the chair of the House.

“I wish to say that early in your tenure, it is my hope that both Leaders of Government Business and myself will be able to sit with you to look at some of these issues that we have had to deal with in the past and to see how we can share in our collective wisdom in the guidance that you will need, from time to time, from those of us in this Chamber. We wish you well, we generally want you to do well, so that your tenure can be very successful,” he said.

In accepting the position, Mr. Clarke said he will work diligently with his colleagues on both sides to ensure that discipline and order are continued in the House.

The Motions for the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker were seconded by Mr. Paulwell.