Jamaica: Holness secures third term as Labour Party claims narrow election victory

Jamaica’s ruling Labour Party has declared victory in the country’s general elections, securing a third consecutive term for Prime Minister Andrew Holness after a tightly fought contest.

Preliminary results released by the Electoral Commission of Jamaica showed the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) winning 34 seats, while the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) claimed 29.

Voter turnout stood at 39.5%, one of the lowest in recent decades, according to figures published on X.

Holness, who campaigned on a platform of tax cuts and economic stability, told supporters on Wednesday night that the result reflected “a mandate to continue building a Jamaica of opportunity and growth.”

He pledged that his government would move quickly to deliver relief for households and businesses struggling with high living costs.

PNP leader Mark Golding, conceding defeat, said his party had “fought hard and offered a clear alternative,” but vowed to serve as a “vigorous and responsible opposition” in Parliament.

The outcome underscores a growing trend of political disengagement among Jamaicans, analysts say, with many voters expressing frustration over corruption scandals and slow progress in tackling crime and inequality.

Despite the narrow margin, Holness’s victory gives him a renewed five-year mandate and places him among the longest-serving leaders in Jamaica’s post-independence history.

Election officials are expected to release final certified results in the coming days.