KINGSTON (Reuters) -Jamaica’s governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) will command a smaller majority in parliament, according to final results from the September 3 election published late on Sunday evening, after the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) doubled its seats in parliament.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
The results deliver Prime Minister Andrew Holness a rare third consecutive term but suggest some voter fatigue after nearly a decade of Labour rule.
BY THE NUMBERS
The JLP won 35 constituencies, while the opposition PNP earned majority support in 28 constituencies, the Electoral Commission of Jamaica said in a statement.
The JLP lost ground compared to the 49 seats it garnered in the 2020 election, while the PNP doubled its number of seats from the 14 won five years ago.
CONTEXT
Holness campaigned on his government’s success in bringing down poverty, unemployment and violent crime. The incumbent also promised to bring down the income tax rate to 15% from 25% and to double the weekly minimum wage to 32,000 Jamaican dollars ($201.12) from 16,000 Jamaican dollars.
The PNP, led by Mark Golding, made inroads with voters by promising to raise the income tax threshold and eliminate taxes on tips and overtime. He also accused Holness’ government of wasteful spending and corruption.
($1 = 159.1100 Jamaican dollars)
(Reporting by Zahra Burton in Kingston, Writing by Brendan O’Boyle; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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