Jamaica’s 2025 General Election: A Third Term for Andrew Holness

By: Chris Tobias | Editorial credit: U.S. Department of State from United States, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

In a historic outcome, Prime Minister Andrew Holness declared victory on September 3, 2025, after his Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) secured a third consecutive term in office. Addressing jubilant supporters, Holness vowed that his government would remain “focused on continuing the transformation of Jamaica,” promising bold tax cuts and a phased doubling of the minimum wage. In contrast, Mark Golding, leader of the opposition People’s National Party (PNP), conceded defeat with measured words, stating that while his party was “disappointed with the outcome, we respect the will of the Jamaican people” and would hold the government accountable on issues of equity and governance.

Procedural Posture and Result

On election night, the JLP captured 34 seats against the PNP’s 29, thereby retaining control of Jamaica’s 63-member House of Representatives. This result secures Holness his third term, placing him alongside P.J. Patterson as the only prime ministers in Jamaica’s independent history to win three successive elections.

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Salient Facts

• Turnout: Roughly 39% of registered voters participated, only marginally higher than the pandemic-era election of 2020.
• Crime & Security: Jamaica recorded a 43% drop in killings in 2025, attributed to intensified policing and firearm seizures. Yet human rights groups criticized the government’s reliance on states of emergency as disproportionate.
• Economic Promises: Holness pledged to slash income tax rates from 25% to 15% and to double the minimum wage, despite concerns raised by business and tourism leaders over fiscal feasibility.
• Opposition’s Platform: Golding’s PNP campaigned on raising the tax threshold, expanding social programs, and tackling corruption, but fell short of persuading the electorate.

Issues Presented

• Mandate vs. Narrow Majority: Can a 34–29 seat margin sustain Holness’s ambitious tax and wage agenda?
• Security vs. Civil Rights: Will continued reliance on extraordinary powers withstand constitutional and judicial scrutiny?
• Economic Credibility: Can the administration finance promised relief while preserving debt discipline?

Analysis

Parliamentary Leverage. The JLP’s slim margin makes governance feasible but fragile. Building consensus will be critical for constitutional or fiscal reforms.

Security & Rights. The government’s reliance on emergency powers may draw litigation under Jamaica’s constitutional rights framework. A rights-proportionate security model would require time limits, oversight mechanisms, and clear necessity tests.

Economic Reforms. The government’s twin pledges—tax cuts and wage increases—carry legal and fiscal implications. Opposition scrutiny may focus on compliance with Jamaica’s debt-reduction targets and equitable distributional effects.

Voter Turnout. With under 40% turnout, Jamaica faces a legitimacy gap. Electoral reforms enhancing accessibility (early voting, modernized registration) may be essential to strengthen democratic participation.

Conclusion

Prime Minister Holness enters a rare third term with both a mandate for reform and a narrow parliamentary majority. His success will depend on balancing bold economic promises with fiscal responsibility, sustaining crime reduction without undermining civil rights, and re-engaging an electorate that has shown signs of apathy. The PNP’s concession reinforces Jamaica’s democratic stability, but Golding has already signaled that his party will serve as a vigilant counterweight in Parliament.

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