Jamaican National Elections: Opposition takes control after 18 years as Bruce edges out Portia - 31: JLP 29: PNP
The Bruce Golding-led Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) defied even the prophets yesterday to eke out its first general election win in 18 years; but the close victory triggered immediate controversy as Prime Minister and PNP President Portia Simpson Miller refused to concede, stating that "the election is too close to call". At the end of the preliminary count, the JLP had won at least 31 seats to the People's National Party's (PNP) 29, in the closest of the country's 15 general elections since Universal Adult Suffrage in 1944. The count now stands at seven wins for the JLP and eight for the PNP.
The PNP faced the electorate on what it said was its solid achievements, pointing to low unemployment and inflation, the development of highways and housing, among others.
The JLP, on the other hand, took aim at what it described as a corrupt and scandal-ridden government, highlighted the high crime rate, poor infrastructure, high unemployment and high public debt. Among the JLP's promises were free tuition at the secondary level and free health care for all.
Jamaica is not only a favorite Caribbean tourist destination, but also a major source of Bauxite ore which is refined into Alumina for export to the US and Canada where it is processed into Aluminium. Jamaica was a former British Colony and presently has close economic ties with the European Union.
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