Subscribe Login
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
Jamaica Observer
ePaper
The Edge 105 FM Radio Fyah 105 FM
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
    • Home
    • News
      • Latest News
      • Cartoon
      • International News
      • Central
      • North & East
      • Western
      • Environment
      • Health
      • #
    • Business
      • Business Bites
      • Social Love
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Basketball
      • Cricket
      • Horse Racing
      • World Champs
      • Commonwealth Games
      • FIFA World Cup
      • Olympics
      • #
    • Videos
    • Entertainment
      • Music
      • Movies
      • Art & Culture
      • Bookends
      • #
    • Lifestyle
      • Page2
      • Food
      • Tuesday Style
      • Food Awards
      • JOL Takes Style Out
      • Design Week JA
      • Black Friday
      • #
    • All Woman
      • Home
      • Relationships
      • Features
      • Fashion
      • Fitness
      • Rights
      • Parenting
      • Advice
      • #
    • Obits
    • Classifieds
      • Employment
      • Property
      • Motor Vehicles
      • Place an Ad
      • Obituaries
    • More
      • Games
      • Elections
      • Jobs & Careers
      • Study Centre
      • Jnr Study Centre
      • Letters
      • Columns
      • Advertorial
      • Editorial
      • Supplements
      • Webinars
  • Home
  • News
    • International News
  • Latest
  • Business
    • Business Bites
  • Cartoon
  • Games
  • Food Awards
  • Health
  • Entertainment
    • Bookends
  • Regional
  • Sports
    • Sports
    • World Cup
    • World Champs
    • Olympics
  • Videos
  • Career & Education
  • Classifieds
  • All Woman
  • Environment
  • Webinars
  • More
    • Football
    • Elections
    • Letters
    • Advertorial
    • Columns
    • Editorial
    • Supplements
  • Epaper
  • Design Week
JLP confident of winning any election called this year
CHANG… we are ready
News
Balford Henry | Observer Writer  
January 11, 2016

JLP confident of winning any election called this year

GENERAL Secretary of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Dr Horace Chang says he’s confident about the chances of the party at the next general election, widely expected early this year.

“Whether it is now or November, we are ready and we will win,” Dr Chang said in reasponse to a question from the

Jamaica Observer Monday, shortly after addressing the issues at a press briefing at the JLP’s Belmont Road headquarters in Kingston.

He said that the party has a programme of activities which will be fully funded and should ensure its victory at the polls.

Dr Chang said that there is no foreseeable change to the list of 63 candidates made public at its last pre-Christmas activity, which was a gospel rally in Old Harbour in December. But he conceded that there could be ‘unexpected developments’.

The JLP general secretary said he had no knowledge of the legal challenge to the replacement of Councillor Devon Wint (Point Hill) by Senator Christopher Tufton, as the party’s candidate for West Central St Catherine, which the

Sunday Observer reported this week.

“I am not aware of any legal challenge. Quite frankly, I am aware of the

Observer article. I haven’t had a chance to read it, unfortunately, but I know of no legal challenges to this situation and I don’t expect any. I don’t expect any challenge that might pose any significant problem for the party at this point in time in that constituency,” he told the briefing.

Both Dr Chang and information spokesperson Olivia “Babsy” Grange insisted that the party had not been advised about Councillor Wint’s alleged threat to hire People’s National Party (PNP) Senator KD Knight to legally challenge his replacement as the candidate for West Central St Catherine, currently represented by the ailing Dr Kenneth Baugh who is not seeking re-election.

Opposition Leader Andrew Holness commented that in taking the action against Wint the party ensured that it followed every legal requirement for his removal.

“What I would say is that the party made sure, in this process, that it followed the rules. And we did so religiously, in ensuring that the legal process and our constitutional process were adhered to and perfected,” Holness said.

Dr Chang, meanwhile, said that with the selection of its candidates out of the way the JLP is refocusing on basic election campaigning, following the Christmas break, and that a number of activities will be announced soon.

“We didn’t stop working, or stopped campaigning but, naturally, during the festive season the activities of our members are different, including visits to institutions like the Bustamante Hospital for Children by the leader of the Opposition and his wife. And similar things were done by the candidates within their constituencies,” he stated.

“In terms of the new year, the party had a meeting of its 63 constituencies yesterday (Sunday at Jamaica Conference Centre). We have since refocused our leadership once more on what is required to maintain our election readiness. That’s where we are now,” he said Monday.

“We are not setting the date. Our actions may help to determine the date, but we don’t set the date. That’s ultimately and clearly the responsibility of the prime minister of the country. What we are doing is ensuring that our party, as an institution, is ready for the election whenever it is called, and we are confident that we are ready and that we will win,” he said.

Chang admitted that unforeseen developments could trigger changes to any list, for example, if a candidate “moves out or moves on”. However, he said the JLP sees its current list of candidates as final.

“I don’t have the powers of the Almighty. If one moves out or moves on, we will have to make changes. But at this point in time we have 63 candidates and that’s who we are working with,” he added.

“Bear in mind that the candidate is the flagbearer in the constituency. What we are concerned with, as a party, is that the institution and the structure of the party in each constituency is functioning and operating at the level that we are ready for an election and, therefore, any candidate change at this point, for any reason, would be incidental to the party’s activities,” he said.

{"website":"website"}{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
img img
0 Comments · Make a comment

ALSO ON JAMAICA OBSERVER

Portland’s Celene Hall crowned Miss Universe Jamaica
Latest News, News
Portland’s Celene Hall crowned Miss Universe Jamaica
BY KEVIN JACKSON Observer Writer 
August 24, 2026
Portland native Celene Hall was crowned Miss Universe Jamaica on Sunday at the coronation show inside the ballroom of the AC Hotel in New Kingston. Me...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Trump says to double auto tariffs on Canada
Latest News, News
Trump says to double auto tariffs on Canada
August 24, 2026
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) —  United States (US) President Donald Trump said Monday that he would double tariffs on Canadian vehicles beginning i...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
JFJ backs CCJ move despite controversy, calls for probe
Latest News, News
JFJ backs CCJ move despite controversy, calls for probe
BY KASEY WILLIAMS Observer staff reporter kaseyw@jamaicaobserver.com 
August 24, 2026
MANDEVILLE, Manchester – Executive director of the advocacy group Jamaicans for Justice (JFJ) Mickel Jackson is adamant that Jamaica should move ahead...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Morris says Ruthven Towers residents still waiting on documents after 4 years
Latest News, News
Morris says Ruthven Towers residents still waiting on documents after 4 years
August 24, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica —  Some four years after the Ruthven Towers Apartments in St Andrew were sold, residents of the complex have not received documents ...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Bangladesh court upholds death sentences over teen burned alive
International News, Latest News
Bangladesh court upholds death sentences over teen burned alive
August 24, 2026
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AFP) — A Bangladesh appeals court upheld on Monday the death sentence for an ex-headteacher convicted of murdering a teenage studen...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
‘Gal Policy’ featured in 50 Cent’s ‘Fightland’
Entertainment, Latest News
‘Gal Policy’ featured in 50 Cent’s ‘Fightland’
August 23, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Popular dancehall producer Jahvy Ambassador is celebrating another international milestone after Gal Policy by Kranium, which he p...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Grange optimistic CPL return will strengthen local cricket and rekindle fan interest
Latest News, Sports
Grange optimistic CPL return will strengthen local cricket and rekindle fan interest
August 23, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport, Olivia Grange, is optimistic that the return of Caribbean Premier League (CP...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
Police probe suspected arson attacks in Rock River, seek person for questioning
Latest News, News
Police probe suspected arson attacks in Rock River, seek person for questioning
August 23, 2026
ST MARY, Jamaica — The St Mary police are seeking a man for questioning in connection with a series of suspected arson attacks in the Rock River commu...
{"jamaica-observer":"Jamaica Observer"}
❮ ❯

Polls

HOUSE RULES

  1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper; email addresses will not be published.
  2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.
  3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.
  4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.
  5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.
  6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.
  7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy

Recent Posts

Archives

Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Tweets

Polls

Recent Posts

Archives

Logo Jamaica Observer
Breaking news from the premier Jamaican newspaper, the Jamaica Observer. Follow Jamaican news online for free and stay informed on what's happening in the Caribbean
Featured Tags
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Health
  • Auto
  • Business
  • Letters
  • Page2
  • Football
Categories
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Page2
Ads
img
Jamaica Observer, © All Rights Reserved
  • Home
  • Contact Us
  • RSS Feeds
  • Feedback
  • Privacy Policy
  • Editorial Code of Conduct