GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands – Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin joined other officials at the swearing in Thursday of Hon. Andrew Michael Holness as Prime Minister of Jamaica at King’s House in Kingston.

This was the second inauguration as head of government in the last five years for Hr. Holness who served as Prime Minister from 23 October, 2011, to 5 January, 2012. He officially took the reins of Jamaica’s Government after being given a mandate by Jamaicans on 25 February to run the affairs of the country for the next five years.

“I was honoured to have received an invitation from Prime Minister Andrew Holness to attend his swearing in at King’s House,” said Mr. McLaughlin. “It also allowed an opportunity for us to have a brief chat and for me to congratulate him in person. I also congratulate the Jamaican people on what was a fairly peaceful election and I look forward to working with Prime Minister Holness in the weeks and months to come in the mutual interest of our respective countries.”

The Jamaica Labour Party, of which Mr. Holness is the leader, gained 32 seats to the People’s National Party’s 31 seats in the 63-seat Jamaica House of Representatives.
Governor General Sir Patrick Allen presided over the ceremony in which Holness took the Oath of Office of Prime Minister of Jamaica and received The Instrumental Appointment to the Office of Prime Minister from the Governor General.

In his address, Mr. Holness promised to build partnerships in Jamaica to help it become the “centre of the Carribean”.

“We must create a Jamaica where there is hope and opportunity. Where we can encourage our children to dream big and be optimistic about their life chances,” Mr. Holness said to a packed audience in his inaugural address.

The day was symbolic and historic. Mr. Holness is joined in parliament by his wife Juliet Holness, who was also elected.

Travelling with Mr. McLaughlin were Cabinet Secretary Mr. Samuel Rose and Senior Political Advisor to the Premier Mr. Roy Tatum. The entourage left Thursday morning and returned to the Cayman Islands Friday.

IMAGES:
Cayman Islands Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, right, and Jamaica’s newest Prime Minister Hon. Andrew Holness following swearing in ceremonies for Mr. Holness in Jamaica on Thursday. (Photo: JIS photographer Mark Bell)

Cayman Islands Premier Hon. Alden McLaughlin, left, and Russian Ambassador to Jamaica His Excellency Vladmir Polenov at a reception following the swearing in of Jamaica’s newest Prime Minister Hon. Andrew Holness.

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Related story:

PM Holness wants to make Jamaica centre of Caribbean

From Jamaica Observer

KINGSTON, Jamaica — In his inaugural address, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said his vision is to make Jamaica the centre of the Caribbean.

Speaking after being appointed Thursday by Governor-general Sir Patrick Allen on the lawns of King’s House in St Andrew, and taking the title ‘The Most Honourable’ after being conferred with the Order of the Nation, Holness said geographically Jamaica is the centre of the Caribbean.

However, the prime minister’s vision is to “truly make Jamaica the centre of the Caribbean” — a centre for finance, trade and commerce, arts, culture and lifestyles, among several other areas.

The new prime minister said this can be achieved “in our lifetime”.

“My dream is to fulfil your dream. We must create a Jamaica where there is hope and opportunity, where we can encourage our children to dream big…” Holness said.
Prime Minister Holness insisted that Jamaicans must start now as it is a “time for partnership, time for action”.

For more on this story go to: http://m.jamaicaobserver.com/mobile/latestnews/PM-Holness-wants-to-make-Jamaica-centre-of-Caribbean