Close contest predicted between JLP, PNP in upcoming general election

 

With the general election due next year, political commentator Germaine Barrett believes it will be a nail-biting contest between the Jamaica Labour Party and the People's National Party.

 

Mr. Barrett says, as a result, there could be more inflammatory remarks on the political platform.

 

"I don't think we are going to see a blowout as we saw in 2020 where the PNP only secured 14 seats in the Parliament. That's not going to happen again. It is going to be a ding-dong race and it is going to be a desperate dog fight to the finish line," said the commentator, who was speaking Monday on the Morning Agenda, on Power 106FM. 

 

Mr. Barrett also believes that if the Prime Minister should call an early election, the results would favour the PNP. 

 

"The longer the Prime Minister waits, the greater the uncertainty. But at this point in time, if the Prime Minister were to call the election... all indications are that it would be a strong show for the People's National Party. The Prime Minister doesn't want that, and so the Prime Minister is trying desperately to really bring into being some of the significant proof that he can manage in ways that are appealing and pleasing to the people of Jamaica," he suggested. 

 

According to the latest Don Anderson poll, 36 per cent of 1,012 respondents said they favoured the PNP's Mark Golding, compared with 32.5 per cent who favoured Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

 

The poll also found that the PNP now has a nine percentage point lead over the JLP in terms of voter intention, with 39.3 per cent of voters indicating they would vote for the opposition if an election were to be called now, as opposed to 30.2 per cent who pledged to support the JLP.