Speaker of the House of Representatives in Jamaica Juliet Holness has been elected to serve on the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association’s (CPA) International Executive Committee as the representative for the Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic Region.

The appointment took effect on October 12, 2025 and follows the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC) held in Barbados, where Holness led the Jamaican delegation, which includes Member of Parliament (MP) for St Elizabeth North West, Andrew Morris; Opposition MP for East St Thomas, Yvonne Rose-Marie Shaw and Clerk to the Houses, Colleen Lowe, who served as Secretary to the delegation. The delegation is completed by Legislative Counsel, Ashleigh Ximines, who served as the delegation’s resource person.

Holness’ appointment underscores Jamaica’s continued leadership and active participation in advancing democratic values and inter-parliamentary collaboration within the Commonwealth. Her election to the Executive Committee places Jamaica at the heart of the CPA’s global leadership for the next three years, as the Jamaican House Speaker joins a select group of parliamentarians responsible for shaping policy and advancing parliamentary democracy across more than 180 national and subnational legislatures worldwide. 

As Regional Representative, Holness will also serve as a member of the CPA Regional Executive Committee, working to strengthen inter-parliamentary cooperation, promote the values of good governance, represent the CPA’s values and objectives at regional and international forums, and encourage active participation by member branches in CPA programmes and activities. 

In accepting the appointment, Holness expressed appreciation and reaffirmed her commitment to advancing the principles of parliamentary democracy across the Commonwealth, saying, “It is an honour to serve as a Regional Representative for the Caribbean, the Americas, and the Atlantic Region. I look forward to representing our region with integrity and commitment and ensuring that our voices remain strong in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.”

The CPA network extends to over 17,000 parliamentarians across nine regions, offering opportunities for collaboration on issues of mutual interest and sharing good practices.