Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness has secured a rare third term in office following the Labour Party’s victories in the recent election. According to preliminary results from the Caribbean nation’s electoral commission, the Labour Party won 34 seats, while the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) won 29 seats. PNP candidate Mark Golding has acknowledged his defeat.
During his campaign, Holness promised to reduce the income tax rate from 25% to 15%, contrasting with Golding’s proposal to raise the income tax threshold. Voters credited Holness with a reduction in the homicide rate, which has reportedly reached its lowest point in 25 years as of the first quarter of 2025. Although some critics questioned the government’s methods for achieving this drop, such as declaring states of emergency in certain areas, the perceived increase in safety likely contributed to Holness’s electoral success.
The economy was a focal point of the election, with the Labour Party highlighting a low unemployment rate of 3.3% as a key accomplishment. Conversely, the PNP criticized the government for alleged financial mismanagement, pointing to the high costs associated with recently purchased used school buses. Additionally, the PNP raised questions regarding Holness’s integrity, citing a report that questioned his income and asset declaration. Holness denied any wrongdoing and suggested the PNP was using these allegations as a distraction.
Voter turnout for the election was recorded at 39.5%. Observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) described the voting process as calm and orderly, highlighting the civic maturity of Jamaican voters. Following the election, Holness expressed gratitude to voters for their support in securing what he termed a historic third term and reaffirmed his commitment to a stronger, safer, and more prosperous Jamaica.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c80gem7k4p0o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss