KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has signaled that he has no intention of stepping aside, telling the nation that his mission as leader remains unfinished.
Speaking after being sworn in for his fourth term as prime minister — and continuing as Jamaica’s ninth head of government — Holness dismissed the idea of retirement or transition, stressing that the nation has more to accomplish before he considers handing over leadership.
“People say the journey is complete, that I should bow out gracefully,” Holness told the gathering. “But leadership is not about leaving when the applause is loudest. It is about finishing the work, even when the climb becomes steep.”
Third Term, Bigger Stakes
The Jamaica Labour Party, fresh off another electoral victory, enters this term with both momentum and mounting expectations. Holness emphasized that his leadership is no longer about proving Jamaica can recover from hardship, but about proving the nation can chart unprecedented growth.
“This is not about legacy. This is about destiny,” he said. “We must move from survival to success, from resilience to prosperity. That is the measure of our task.”
A Call to Nation-Building
The prime minister positioned this phase of governance as a collective mission, urging Jamaicans to think beyond short-term gains.
“Our children deserve more than hope — they deserve opportunity,” Holness declared. “We are building not just for ourselves, but for the generations who must inherit a Jamaica that soars higher than we ever dreamed possible.”
As he embarks on this next chapter, Holness underscored that the real test of leadership lies not in what has already been accomplished, but in what remains to be done.
