JLP secures third term with election win

 

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has won Wednesday’s parliamentary general election, giving the 82-year-old party its third consecutive term in office for the first time in its history. 

 

According to the preliminary count of votes on Election Day, the JLP won 34 seats to the People’s National Party's 29. 

 

This run of victory for the JLP started on February 25, 2016. It continued on September 3, 2020, and with Wednesday’s success, there's the possibility that the party could have an uninterrupted run of 14 years in office, if it serves the constitutionally allowed five years in this third term. The current record for the longest run in office was set by the PNP, which had 18 years in four consecutive terms terms, from 1989 to 2007.

 

This latest win will also give JLP Leader Dr. Andrew Holness a third consecutive term as Prime Minister. He also briefly served in that office from October 23, 2011 to January 5, 2012, after succeeding Prime Minister Bruce Golding who had resigned. 

 

On Wednesday night, PNP President Mark Golding conceded defeat and congratulated the JLP for its victory. Admitting that he was disappointed, Mr. Golding said he nevertheless accepted the results of the election. 

 

The PNP president praised the "wonderful demonstration of the maturity of Jamaica's democracy" noting that such a close election did not bring violence.

 

He said the PNP is "alive and well" having come a long way over the last two years, adding that the people will in due course give it the chance to lead the country again.