Juliet Holness elected Commonwealth Parliamentary Association vice-chairperson
Key Points(5)
- Speaker of the House of Representatives Juliet Holness has been elected vice-chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), becoming the first Jamaican to do so in 33 years.
- Holness was elected on Thursday during the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
- Her election marks Jamaica’s return to the vice-chairpersonship for the first time since former Speaker of the House of Representatives Headley Cunningham served in the office from 1992 to 1993.
- Reflecting on her election, Holness said she was deeply honoured.
- Jamaica’s slavery petition packed with years of research News Jamaica’s slavery petition packed with years of research September 20, 2026 “For Jamaica to return to this office after 33 years is a proud and significant moment for our Parliament and our country.
Speaker of the House of Representatives Juliet Holness has been elected vice-chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), becoming the first female presiding officer from Jamaica to hold the post.
Holness was elected Thursday during the 69th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, and will serve in the position for one year.
Her election also marks Jamaica’s return to the CPA vice-chairpersonship for the first time in 33 years. Former House Speaker Headley Cunningham last held the position from 1992 to 1993.
“For Jamaica to return to this office after 33 years is a proud and significant moment for our Parliament and our country,” Holness said. “I accept this responsibility with humility and with a clear sense of purpose.”
Holness previously served as chair of the CPA Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic (CAA) Region. Her tenure as regional chair culminated in Jamaica hosting the 48th CPA Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Regional Conference from August 30 to September 5.
She credited presiding officers and delegates from across the region with helping to build support for her candidacy.
“This achievement was not the work of one person or one Parliament. It was a tremendous regional effort, and I carry that support with me into this new responsibility,” Holness said.
She added that she intends to ensure the experiences and perspectives of small states and smaller jurisdictions continue to be represented in the CPA’s work.
Holness will continue to represent the Caribbean, Americas and the Atlantic Region within the association’s international governance structure and will also serve on the CPA Finance Subcommittee.
She assumes the vice-chairpersonship as the organization implements its 2026–2029 Strategic Plan and transitions to a new international legal status following legislative changes in the United Kingdom aimed at recognizing the CPA as an international interparliamentary organization.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, held from September 13 to 19, is the CPA’s principal annual gathering and brings together presiding officers, parliamentarians and parliamentary officials from across the Commonwealth.
This year’s conference is being held under the theme, “Strengthening International Law and Parliamentary Democracy in a Changing World Order: Commonwealth Leadership.”
Established in 1911, the CPA brings together nearly 180 parliaments and legislatures across nine Commonwealth regions.
