KINGSTON, Jamaica - Prime Minister Andrew Holness Sunday announced September 3, as the date for the general elections in Jamaica as his ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) seeks a third consecutive term in office. Nomination Day will be August 18.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness ringing the bell as he names September 3 as the date for the general elections in Jamaica (CMC Photo)Holness, 53, addressing a rally at Half Way Tree, a neighbourhood in the city of Kingston, told supporters that he had earlier on Sunday informed the Governor General Sir Patrick Allen of the decision to call the election.
“Our stewardship must be reviewed by you the people,” Holness said, adding “so earlier today, I advised his Excellency the Governor General of my intention to announce the general elections, and for him to set certain processes in place, including the dissolution of Parliament.
“I now declare that nomination day will be Monday August 18 and the general elections date is fixed at Wednesday, September 3, 2025
“My fellow Jamaicans you now know the time, you now know the date, I ask you to choose wisely,” Holness told the large crowd at the JLP rally.
The JLP is expected to face a strong challenge from the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP), which won 14 of the 63 seats in the Parliament in the 2020 general election.
PNP General Secretary, Dr Dayton Campbell, said the party has done the necessary groundwork and is ready to present its vision for Jamaica’s future.
Campbell, speaking at a party event on Saturday night, told Prime Minister Holness “tell the people of the country …nomination day is August 18 and the election day is September 3. “Call the election so that Mark Golding (PNP leader) can become prime minister,” Campbell added.
In a speech last just under an hour, Holness said ”I don’t have to tell you that this is the best performing government in the history of Jamaica,” adding that usually governments in the second term tend to lose momentum.
“The momentum is with the Jamaica Labour Party. The momentum is borne out of the hard work…but also borne out of the legitimacy of the government,” he said, adding that the people of Jamaica have to agree that the “Jamaica Labour Party is a government has delivered”.
Holness said that since coming to office 10 years ago, the government has been able to drastically reduce crime, cut interest rate, improve housing and education as well provide opportunities for young people among other policies.
He said as of September 1, this year, medium and small enterprises (MSME) will benefit from a 50 per cent in water rates and that young people will also benefit because they have expressed the need for opportunities to help grow the economy.
Holness said that Jamaica’s current unemployment level is now pegged at 33 per cent, adding “ we have never been at 3.3 per cent in Jamaica.
During his address, the representative for West Central St. Andrew sought to deal with the accusations of corruption against him, saying that Jamaicans are well aware of his struggles and how he had been able to start off a business using a vehicle.
“I am a true Jamaican,” he said, adding ”I never made any money on the backs of the Jamaican people”.
Holness reminded the meeting that he did not accept any salary increase , adding “my salary today is about nine million dollars (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents)…but I never take it (salary increase).
“Who is truly for Jamaica …every day I read my bible and I pray and I want to thank all the Jamaicans who pray for me,” he said, adding “no weapon that they are conspiring to form against me shall prosper “I will never do anything to harm you,” he told the JLP supporters.
