Al Jazeera News :
Jamaica’s governing party has cruised to a landslide re-election victory marked by low turnout, prompting Prime Minister Andrew Holness to promise to work on restoring voters’ trust in politics and continue fighting the country’s coronavirus outbreak.
The centre-right Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) won 49 of 63 seats, an addition of 16 seats, according to an early count released about 9pm local time (02:00 GMT) on Thursday by the Electoral Commission.
“There is cause for celebration, but there is also significant cause for consideration,” Holness said in a subdued televised speech claiming victory.
“There are many Jamaicans who did not participate, there are many Jamaicans, who for fear of the virus, did not come to the polls, but for other reasons, apathy, frustrations, decided not to participate.”
Holness pledged to “continue our good policies” in order to “keep Jamaica on the path to prosperity”.
“We will be responsible with the power that you have given to us.”
Peter Phillips, leader of the opposition People’s National Party (PNP), appeared to have retained his seat, but he had previously declared that he would step down and retire from politics if his party lost the election.
The JLP captured the polls in 2016 with a one-seat margin, winning just 32 seats out of 63, then gaining one more seat in November 2017. This time, even former PNP Prime Minister Michael Manley’s stronghold seat fell to the JLP, surprising observers.
“The PNP are barely holding on in traditionally safe territory. This election represents a massive realignment of Jamaica’s political landscape, albeit with lower than expected voter turnout,” political analyst Ricardo Brooks told Reuters news agency.
In the run-up to the election, Holness credited his administration’s tax cuts and other reforms with bringing down unemployment to an all-time low and sharply reducing poverty. He also highlighted the construction of affordable housing and new roads.
Jamaica’s governing party has cruised to a landslide re-election victory marked by low turnout, prompting Prime Minister Andrew Holness to promise to work on restoring voters’ trust in politics and continue fighting the country’s coronavirus outbreak.
The centre-right Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) won 49 of 63 seats, an addition of 16 seats, according to an early count released about 9pm local time (02:00 GMT) on Thursday by the Electoral Commission.
“There is cause for celebration, but there is also significant cause for consideration,” Holness said in a subdued televised speech claiming victory.
“There are many Jamaicans who did not participate, there are many Jamaicans, who for fear of the virus, did not come to the polls, but for other reasons, apathy, frustrations, decided not to participate.”
Holness pledged to “continue our good policies” in order to “keep Jamaica on the path to prosperity”.
“We will be responsible with the power that you have given to us.”
Peter Phillips, leader of the opposition People’s National Party (PNP), appeared to have retained his seat, but he had previously declared that he would step down and retire from politics if his party lost the election.
The JLP captured the polls in 2016 with a one-seat margin, winning just 32 seats out of 63, then gaining one more seat in November 2017. This time, even former PNP Prime Minister Michael Manley’s stronghold seat fell to the JLP, surprising observers.
“The PNP are barely holding on in traditionally safe territory. This election represents a massive realignment of Jamaica’s political landscape, albeit with lower than expected voter turnout,” political analyst Ricardo Brooks told Reuters news agency.
In the run-up to the election, Holness credited his administration’s tax cuts and other reforms with bringing down unemployment to an all-time low and sharply reducing poverty. He also highlighted the construction of affordable housing and new roads.
