Prime Minister Andrew Holnes wins a rare third term

Jamaic Prime Minister Andrew Holnes, 53, won a rare third term in office after his Labor Party sailed to win at Wednesday’s election.

The Caribbean Nation’s Election Commission said the Labor Party won 34 seats by defeating the National Opposition Party (PNP), which provided 29 seats, according to preliminary data.

The PNP candidate, Mark Golding, gave way.

Holness has been launched a promise to reduce income tax rate from 25% to 15%, while Golding said it would raise the income tax threshold.

Its acting was also credited by many voters to reduce the number of killings in the country after the percentage of murder fell to its lowest for 25 years in the first quarter of 2025, according to official data.

Although there was some criticism of the measures used to achieve a decline in crime – such as extraordinary conditions that are declared in some regions – an increased sense of safety seems to have helped to drive Holnes in another term.

But the economy was at the center of the election campaign, with the Labor Party pointing to the low unemployment rate of 3.3% as one of its achievements in service.

The main opposition party, PNP, accused the government of washing money, citing the high price of second -hand school buses it has purchased.

He also raised questions about the integrity of Holness, citing a report that called into question his income and assets declaration.

Holnes denied any misconduct and accused PNP of using the report as “distraction” because, he said, the government’s record is such that there is a little opposition to be able to criticize.

While turnout was low by 39.5%, a monitoring mission sent by the organization of US countries (OAS) praised Jamaica’s voters for being “calm and arranged with a sense of civil maturity and pride.”

Holnes thanks the voters for “this historic third term” and for their “trust, your faith and your faith in the vision of a more strong, more fascinated, more prosperous Jamaica.”