Jamaicans vote in tight leadership race. Guyana’s president poised for re-election
Jamaicans are headed to the polls on Wednesday as Prime Minister Andrew Holness vies for a third consecutive term in what observers expect will be a close general election.
The race pits Holness and his governing Jamaica Labor Party, JLP, against attorney Mark Golding and the opposition People’s National Party, PNP. Also running are the Jamaica Progressive Party and the United Independents’ Congress.
As the polls opened, voters in another general elections in the region this week were equally anxious. On Monday, oil and gas rich Guyana held general elections. Though the Guyana Elections Commission has yet to officially declare final winners, results posted online show President Mohamed Irfaan Ali poised to win a second, five-year term along with his Indo-dominated People’s Progressive Party.
Both nations are strong U.S. allies with Holness and Ali being among the first Caribbean leaders earlier this year to welcome visits from Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The elections are taking place amid a buildup of U.S. warships in the southern Caribbean by the Trump administration.
But for Jamaica’s registered eligible voters, who number just over 2 million in a population of 2.8 million, the questions facing them is who among this year’s candidates — including some independents — is best suited to improve their economic future and address inequities. “The future of Jamaica is in our hands,” Holness said on X after casting his vote and asking Jamaicans to “keep our country moving in the right direction.”
On the campaign, Holness, whose global profile has risen during his nine years in office, has pledged to double the current minimum wage, a move that has drawn criticism from some, if the JLP is reelected. He’s also highlighted new roads and improvements in the economy under his leadership.
Such improvements have the country looking at a projected 1.7% growth in its economy this year, according to a recent financial outlook, thanks to reductions in the public debt. A drastic drop in the crime rate, including 43% declined in murders this year, also recently led to the State Department’s issuing an improved travel warning for U.S. citizens.
Still, the government has faced challenges, which the PNP and its leader Mark Golding highlighted during the campaign. They include corruption allegations, which Holness has denied, and the government’s failure to provide Jamaicans with critical infrastructure. Ahead of Wednesday’s polls, Golding continued to push an anti-corruption platform as he and his slate of candidates told Jamaicans that the PNP is the party to trust to also improve conditions for farmers and bring water and other critical infrastructure.
After casting his vote in the St. Andrew Eastern constituency alongside his wife, Sandra, Golding appeared hopeful.
“The party is united, our organization is strong,” he said, adding that the PNP is looking forward to today “being a peaceful day.”
Golding also encouraged all voter’s to head to the polls “to help to choose a government of their choice.”
“We hope that this will be a great day for Jamaica,” he said.
