Leader of the Opposition Andrew Holness last night indicated that he intends to stay on as leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), despite two consecutive election losses to the ruling People’s National Party since late December.

“In a situation like this, as the leader of the party, people will be looking to me for leadership and I will be doing just that, as leader of the Jamaica Labour Party,” Holness told a brief press conference at JLP headquarters on Belmont Road, Kingston to concede his party’s defeat in the 2012 Local Government Elections, shortly after nine o’clock.

Holness, who arrived at Belmont Road close to 7:30 pm as the results of the elections began to show a definite trend towards a PNP victory, huddled with Deputy Leader Desmond McKenzie and General Secretary Aundre Franklin for approximately one hour before meeting with the media.

He said that despite the loss, the future was still bright for the JLP, and that the party would consider the results in its rebuilding process. He added that the party was cognisant of the issues which led to its defeat, and will be working on them. He, however, did not state the issues.

“I want to reassure the workers and the voters that the party is continuing the process of rebuilding, and this experience is just part of that process,” he stated.

Holness denied suggestions that the party was not prepared for the poll. He claimed that the party might have needed more time for its campaign theme of balancing political power to resonate with the voters.

He insisted that the party was mobilised for the election and its workers came out, but admitted that the challenge of winning was always an “uphill battle”, considering the PNP’s convincing victory in December.

“It was always an uphill battle, but we fought valiantly,” he said.

Holness was accompanied at the briefing by McKenzie; Franklin; newly elected Councillor Duane Smith (Chancery Hall Division); and returning KSAC Councillor Winston Ennis (Waterloo Division).