KINGSTON, Jamaica – The People’s National Party (PNP) Thursday won the general elections here inflicting a defeat on the ruling Jamaica labour Party (JLP).
Portia Simpson-Miller, the first ever woman to head of a government in this country, led the PNP to a 42-21 thrashing of the incumbent Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in Thursday general election that was called one year ahead of the constitutional deadline, according to the preliminary results.
PNP Leader and President Simpson-Miller, as well as the party’s campaign manager and former national security minister Dr Peter Phillips and the former finance minister Dr, Omar Davies are among PNP successful candidates.
But while Prime Minister Andrew Holness retained his St Andrew West Central seat, some of his Cabinet colleagues were not so fortunate.
Among the casualties were national security minister Dwight Nelson, agriculture minister Robert Monteague and industry minister Clive Mullings and former director of elections Danville Walker.
Phillips told reporters that the PNP’s victory could be attributed to the fact that the party communicated its “view on the economy (and), its view on the current administration.
“We have put forward the fact that we have a team that was a united team and we also did the work on the ground,” he said, adding “I think all those factors combined to give us the victory that we have tonight”.
Phillips said that the party is hoping to win at least 37 seats in the elections that had been observed by teams from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) grouping. (CMC)
