Dear Editor,

Congratulations to Dr Andrew Holness and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) on securing a historic third-term win.

Indisputably, it was a tightly fought race, but, in the end, Dr Holness has secured himself as “1 PM”. In the end, a win is a win, and he will get an opportunity to cement his legacy. He has defeated three People’s National Party (PNP) presidents — former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, Dr Peter Phillips, and now Mark Golding.

Understandably, the JLP and Dr Holness took nothing for granted. They knew a third term was no easy feat. They hit the ground, they had a clean and more organised campaign, and they shared their achievements and visions with the people. Despite losing 15 of those seats in the preliminary count to the PNP, they emerged victorious.

Holness’s win came as a big upset to many in civil society, media, and the business world. Many were hoping to truly reveal their ‘neutrality’ in favour of the PNP if Golding had won, but they have a long wait.

PNP president and Opposition Leader Golding should also be commended for his stellar performance. Undoubtedly, the PNP’s comeback from the 2020 General Election in which they lost 14-49 to the JLP could not have been easy. The PNP campaigned for a great part of the last electoral cycle, as it really needed to cover some significant ground. It has regained some seats that were flipped in 2020 by fielding, in some cases, first-time Member of Parliament candidates, which is a big deal.

One of the things to note is that a good portion of the population will experience an equal number of years under both the PNP and the JLP. As is widely known, only former Prime Minister PJ Patterson has served an unbroken three terms at the helm of Government. Inescapably, people from the Patterson generation will score Holness based on how far he takes the country as a contemporary leader.

Moving the economy from a status of stable to one of growing is critical for the new Holness Administration. Importantly also, a thick cloud of corruption allegations hang over Holness’s head, which needs to be addressed early in his new tenure.

The Jamaican people, including many in the Diaspora who flew in for “Sports Day”, have placed the affairs of the country in the hands of the JLP for another five years. This is a serious mandate. Holness and his new Government must deliver.

There are many lessons to be drawn for this election, including that some citizens are serious about voting out non-performing MPs.

The third term has loaded. The JLP needs to run the course well.

Oneil Madden

maddenoniel@yahoo.com