JAMAICA VOTES ON SEPTEMBER 3rd!

In a sea of Jamaican flags, campaign paraphernalia and surrounded by hordes of party faithful, Prime Minister Andrew Holness finally disclosed what Jamaicans - and the rest of the region and beyond - have been waiting to hear.

First came the teaser: “I now declare that Nomination Day will be Monday August 18th.”

That was followed by the much-anticipated pronouncement: “And the general election,” he thundered, “the general election date is fixed at Wednesday September 3!”

Already in campaign mode, both the ruling Jamaica Labour Party(JLP) led by Mr Holness, and the main opposition People’s National Party(PNP), now led by Mark Golding, along with other groups and independents expected to contest the election, will now unleash their full campaign machinery.

The announcement of the election date comes just days after elaborate celebrations marking Jamaica’s 63rd independence anniversary.

With crime and the economy already top issues, the ruling JLP has already been taking credit for a turnaround in the economy under its stewardship, especially over the past two terms under Mr Holness.

A tough stance on crime underpinned by new policies, relations with the United States under the Trump presidency with its own tough anti-crime, immigration and economic policies, and lifting struggling Jamaicans out of poverty are also expected to be hallmarks of the JLP’s re-election strategy.

For the main opposition PNP, hoping for a political recovery after being hammered in the 2020 polls, new leader Mark Golding will be hoping to turn around his party’s fortunes with a platform focusing on the economy, crime and social justice. He assumed the party’s leadership following its disastrous 2020 showing against the incumbent JLP. In that election, Mr Holness guided the JLP to a landslide over the PNP, then led by Peter Phillips.

On September 3rd the ruling JLP will be defending its 49 seats to the 16 held by the PNP. There are 63 elected seats in the Jamaican national parliament.

Pundits expect this election to be a closer race with a higher turnout compared to 2020’s 38 per cent voter participation.

There are 1.2 million registered voters in Jamaica of a population estimated at 2.8 million.