Mrs Holness takes Speaker's chair in Parliament, MPs cheer

Jovan Johnson, Parliamentary Reporter

Juliet Holness, the St Andrew East Rural representative, banged the Speaker's gavel shouting "order" as members of both sides of the House of Representatives banged the desks of Parliament to acknowledge her 'elevation' this afternoon.

The Prime Minister's wife was deputising for Pearnel Charles who was taking a break.

What's normally an ignored procedure did not escape members this time as Holness took her seat in the Speaker's chair.

She did so as St Thomas Eastern representative Dr Fenton Ferguson was making his contribution to the Sectoral Debate.

On at least three occasions his reference to "Mr Speaker" met loud "nos" as members reminded him Mrs Holness was in the chair.

Amid the desk beating and cheers, Holness had to resort to using the gavel urging "order!" in the chamber.

Less than five minutes after taking the seat, Charles returned, but members had seemingly gotten used to Holness and encouraged her to remain in the chair.

Holness is a first-term MP.

She defeated the People's National Party's Imani Duncan Price in the February General Election.