Kingston, Jamaica (AP) - Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness secured a third term early Thursday following a closely contested election amidst island-wide concerns over corruption, inequity, and economic challenges.
Preliminary results indicated that Holness' Jamaica Labour Party captured at least 34 seats, while the opposition People's National Party, led by Mark Golding, secured at least 29 seats. Golding acknowledged his defeat in a brief speech, expressing disappointment over the outcome and congratulating his rival.
"This is not an easy speech to make," he admitted.
The general elections held on Wednesday also saw participation from the Jamaica Progressive Party, the United Independents' Congress, and nine independent candidates who vied for seats across various constituencies. The official voter turnout was reported at a mere 38.8%, slightly improved from the turnout during the pandemic-stricken 2020 elections.
With a population of 2.8 million, just over 2 million registered voters were eligible to cast ballots. A total of 63 seats were contested in Jamaica's House of Representatives, with the leader of the majority-winning party set to become the island's next prime minister.
The new leader will also appoint 13 of the 21 senators to Jamaica's upper chamber of Parliament, while the opposition will select the remaining eight.
Crime Reduction Versus Criticism
Under Holness, Jamaica has experienced a significant 43 per cent decrease in killings this year, marking it as the most notable drop in decades. This improvement is primarily credited to the administration's increased firearm seizures and a fortified, coordinated security presence across the Caribbean island.
The Jamaica Labour Party capitalized on this achievement during their campaign, portraying themselves as the administration that averted widespread violence on the island. However, despite this progress, Jamaica's haunted history of violence endures, and the government's measures, such as implementing states of emergency, have both supporters and detractors.
While the private sector and numerous Jamaicans have lauded these efforts, with some areas like the tourist hub of St. James seeing a remarkable 70 per cent drop in killings, human rights groups have raised alarms about potential human rights abuses, particularly illegal detentions, urging for a balanced approach to safeguarding both security and civil liberties.
The JLP has further championed fiscal responsibility, a low unemployment rate, and the importance of maintaining continuity to not jeopardize the current progress.
Minimum Wage Pledge Controversy
During a rally on Sunday, Holness pledged that his party would double the current minimum wage of USD 100 per 40-hour workweek upon reelection.
"We believe in growing the economy so that everyone gets a bigger slice. As the economy expands, we must ensure those at the bottom receive fair rewards, while creating incentives for more Jamaicans, especially our youth, to enter the workforce," he asserted.
However, this promise has received criticism from various business sector groups, who say it could impact tourism significantly, a critical industry that constitutes around one-third of Jamaica's GDP and employs a large portion of the population.
“Any shifts in wage policy will, therefore, have broad implications for the sector, affecting employment levels, competitiveness, and the affordability of the Jamaican tourism product,” the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association warned.
'Frustration and Call for Change'
The People's National Party (PNP) adopted a more confrontational stance before the election, underscoring that despite some progress, many Jamaicans are still burdened by socioeconomic issues such as poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and persisting pockets of crime and corruption.
"There are a lot of frustrated people tired of the conditions in which they live," Golding told reporters as he cast his vote.
Vying to galvanize public frustration into a mandate for change, the PNP promised reforms, revitalized social investments, and an end to what it terms “complacency” in governance.
Among their key policy proposals is an increase in the income tax threshold to USD 21,800, up from the current USD 11,200, to enable working-class Jamaicans to retain more earnings amid rising costs.
Although Jamaica maintains a vibrant democratic tradition, recent years have seen dwindling voter participation.
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