For any political party at the end of a bruising electoral contest, a win is a win, no matter how narrow the results.

We once again congratulate the Andrew Holness-led Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) on its victory in Thursday’s general election.

Having said that, however, it is clear to us that given the low voter turn-out — the lowest in any elections — and the razor-thin margin of victory, the incoming prime minister and the new Government must understand that this is not an overwhelming mandate from the Jamaican people.

Indeed, a few hundred votes in two more constituencies could have resulted in a People’s National Party (PNP) victory.

The close result has implications for change and for continuity.

First, there are some things that must have continuity, and that includes the completion of the programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

A flood wave of uncertainty has to be stymied. The key players in Washington, New York, and Paris need to be calmed by the actions taken in the next couple of weeks.

Second, the plans for promoting economic growth need to be continued and brought to fruition as quickly as economic conditions allow. Tourism needs a good minister to continue its growth, and the efforts in business process outsourcing and the logistics hub need to be ramped up quickly.

Third, there are things that should change, most importantly crime, which has to be brought under control as it is one of the major impediments to economic growth and the quality of life.

Just as urgent, the country must regain confidence in its health care apparatus, especially as we face the Zika pandemic.

Fourth, among the changes that would send positive signals is a creative allocation of ministerial posts, one that avoids putting the political elders in all the most critical positions.

A mix of youth and experience is always a political best practice. We suggest that those who have little to offer should gracefully decline any offer to be in the Cabinet, and offer their services in an advisory capacity to the prime minister who is still relatively inexperienced.

The new JLP Government must find the right blend of change and continuity in policies and in leadership. The Government must start leading the process of putting behind the ill feelings generated by the political campaign, and to send the message of reconciliation and unity between the Comrades and the Labourites.

For its part, the leadership of the PNP, we expect, will take some time to do its own post-mortem. To have lost an election which seems theirs for the taking warrants serious reflection and introspection.

The PNP need not immediately start criticising everything the new Government does, but must allow it sufficient time, albeit a brief honeymoon, to get familiar with the state of the Government and economy.

Above all, we hope that there must be no recriminations. This is truly a time for transformational politics.

With less than half of the electorate exercising their franchise, it will largely be up to the political parties to behave in such a way as to help Jamaicans regain their confidence in them and to believe that politics still has the potential to bring the progress and prosperity which we all seek.