Nearly 2.1 million Jamaicans will go to the polls on Wednesday to elect a new government with the incumbent Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) seeking an unprecedented third consecutive term in office.
Political observers say that despite there being 189 candidates including 53 women representing four political parties and several independents, the race is a straight fight between the JLP and the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) for control of the 63 seat Parliament.
The Jamaica Progressive Party (JPP) has entered candidates in 47 constituencies, while seven nominees will represent the United Independents’ Congress (UIC).
In the 2020 general election, the JLP won 49 seats, but opinion polls predict a much tighter race this time around.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness told supporters that he is confident that the party will retain the majority of the 63 seats in the Parliament.
“I (will) see you (on) the night of the third as we celebrate our victory for Jamaica,” he told supporters at the rally in Spanish Town, St Catherine, adding that he believes the decision is clear for Jamaicans to make when they go to the polls.
But the PNP leader, Mark Golding told Jamaicans that should the JLP win, “then you’ll have five years of bad government and your children will be suffering the consequences and their grandchildren as well, of that bad decision”.
Since gaining universal adult suffrage in 1944, Jamaica has held 18 general elections with both major parties winning on nine occasions each.
The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) said that the 7,294 polling stations at 2,153 locations across the island will be open from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm (local time) with the preliminary results expected a few hours later.
Last Friday, special voters including members of the security services and election day workers cast ballots with the EOJ indicating that 25, 938 out of a total of 45, 455 did so.
The elections will be monitored by several national, regional and international observers, including the Citizens Action for Free & Fair Elections (CAFFE), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organization of American States (OAS) and the delegations from the British High Commission, the United States Embassy, and the European Union. (CMC)
