Andrew Holness and JLP Clinch Historic Third Term in Jamaica Elections
History was made in Jamaica this week. Prime Minister Andrew Holness and his Jamaica Labour Party( JLP) secured a third successive term in office, edging past the People’s National Party( PNP) in one of the islet’s tightest choices in decades.
Primary numbers put the JLP ahead in 33 of 63 seats, just enough to declare palm. That result cements Holness’s position as the first JLP leader to achieve three successive wins. Only one other Jamaican prime minister has managed the same feat, PJ Patterson of the rival PNP.
A close fight, not a landslide
This wasn’t the landslide some predicted. The contest carried a raw intensity not seen in years. The PNP, long criticised for lacking bite in opposition, stormed back with renewed strength after their near-miss in the 2024 local elections.
That narrow loss appears to have breathed fresh energy into the party, galvanising supporters at home and abroad.
Campaigns were fiery. Corruption allegations, leadership debates, and questions of profitable operation dominated public discussion.
On social media, Jamaicans across the diaspora counted in passionately, pressing the global attention this election attracted.
Turnout stood at 38.8, slightly above the epidemic-hit 2020 figure and far below the 48 of 2016.
Judges flagged this as a disquieting sign of continued advancement, indeed as choosers queued long into the day in some constituencies. Big wins and surprising losses
The JLP held onto several key seats. Health Minister Dr Christopher Tufton defended West Central St. Catherine with 6,940 votes against the PNP’s Locksley Francis on 3,718. Holness himself easily retained his St. Andrew West Central seat.
The Jamaica Labour Party has won a third consecutive term under Dr Andrew Holness in a closely contested general election that saw the resurgent opposition People’s National Party increase its seat count in the House of Representatives. #JaVotes2025 pic.twitter.com/ewAXVUakb3
— Jamaica Gleaner (@JamaicaGleaner) September 4, 2025
But there were shocks too. Ann-Marie “Action Ann” Vaz, a rising JLP star, fell to PNP newcomer Isat Buchanan in Portland Eastern by fewer than 200 votes.
On the PNP’s side, Mark Golding cruised to victory in Southern St. Andrew with a commanding 9,371 votes against Carlton Allen’s 1,183. Veterans like Anthony Hylton, Phillip Paulwell, and Fitz Jackson also held their ground.
Meanwhile, JLP’s Fayval Williams narrowly survived in East St. Andrew, while PNP’s Peter Bunting and Julian Robinson tightened their grip on long-standing constituencies.
Jamaica’s politics at a turning point
For many, this wasn’t just about party colours. It felt like a vote on leadership, responsibility, and the direction of the Jamaican frugality. The JLP refocused on growth and development.
The PNP combated with calls for equity, transparency, and fresh leadership. What’s certain is that Jamaica’s political geography has shifted. The JLP may have retained power, but the PNP has rediscovered its edge.
As Jamaicans stay for the sanctioned final count, one fact remains undisputed, the 2025 general election will be flashed back as a turning point, reshaping both the country’s politics and its unborn course.
