JAMICA KINGSTON (AP) — Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness secured a third term early Thursday after a tough race on the island, shaking by corruption, inequality and economic concerns.
Preliminary results showed that Holness’s Jamaican Labour Party won at least 34 seats, while Mark Golding’s opposition People’s Party secured at least 29 seats.
Golding admitted the election in a short speech, saying that he was disappointed with the outcome as he recognized the success of his opponent.
“This is not a simple speech,” he said.
Also participating in Wednesday’s general election were nine independent candidates seeking seats in Jamaica’s Progressive Party, United Independent Congress and various constituencies.
Official turnout was just 38.8%, just slightly higher than the turnout in the 2020 elections during the pandemic.
People lined up to vote at the polling station during the general election held in Kingston, Jamaica on Wednesday, September 3, 2025 (AP Photo/Corin Reed)
Just 2 million registered voters are eligible to vote on the 2.8 million islands.
A total of 63 seats will be available in the Jamaican House of Representatives. The party’s leader, which has won a majority, will become the island’s next prime minister.
The new leader will appoint 13 of the 21 senators to Jamaica’s upper parliamentary meeting room, while the opposition will select the other eight.
Concerns despite the decline in crime
Under Holness, Jamaica has seen a 43% drop in killings so far this year, marking the biggest decline in decades. This improvement has been largely praised for the increase in firearm attacks caused by the current administration and the presence of stronger and coordinated security forces across the Caribbean islands.
Jamaican Labour Party has campaigned for this concrete success and established itself as a government that has pulled the island back from the brink of widespread violence.
Crime statistics have improved, but the shadows of Jamaica’s violent past still remain. Measures taken by the current government, including Implementing an emergency In certain areas, they elicited both support and criticism.
The private sector and many Jamaicans praise the effectiveness of such measures, with killings falling by 70% in some areas, like the tourism parish at St. James.
However, human rights groups raise concerns about the use of such measures and potential abuse, highlighting that they are allegedly illegally detained as they seek a balanced approach to protecting safety and civil liberties.
Jamaican Labour also emphasized the importance of continuity as it urged voters not to reverse fiscal responsibility, low unemployment rates and progress achieved so far.
The pledge will occur
On Sunday, Holness pledged to double his current minimum wage of $100 per 40 hours a week if his party is re-elected.
“We believe that everyone will grow the economy to get bigger slices. As the economy expands, we must ensure that the bottom is rewarded fairly, creating incentives for more Jamaicans, especially young people, to join the workforce,” he said at a recent rally.
However, his pledge has attracted criticism from groups representing various business sectors.
“Tourism accounts for about a third of Jamaica’s gross domestic product and is one of the largest employers in the country,” the Jamaican Hotels and Tourism Association said.
“Therefore, changes in wage policies will have a broad impact on the sector, including employment levels, competitiveness, and affordability of Jamaican tourism products.”
“I’m tired of the situation.”
The People’s Party, or PNP, had adopted a sharper, more critical tone before the election. While progress was being made, many Jamaicans claimed they still felt the pinch of socioeconomic challenges, including poverty, inadequate infrastructure, and a prolonged pocket of crime and corruption.
“There are a lot of frustrated people who are tired of the conditions they live in,” Golding told reporters when he voted Wednesday.
The parties sought to lead citizen dissatisfaction to mandate change, promising reforms, and new social investments to break away from what they call “self-satisfaction” in governance.
Mark Jefferson Golding, president of the People’s Party and president of the National Party, running for prime minister, when he heads to the polling station during the general election held in Kingston, Jamaica on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
Important within the party’s policy proposals to address the socioeconomic disasters of Jamaicans is the increase in the income tax standard from the current $11,200 to $21,800. Opposition parties say they hope that working-class Jamaicans will bring more money back as a cushion against rising prices.
Despite Jamaica’s vibrant democratic tradition, poll participation has declined in recent years.
On August 29th, Jamaican security forces and members of Election Day workers voted for this year’s election. The election office reported a 57% turnout.
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The Associated Press Dánica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico contributed.
