Holness says third term not guaranteed

A fired-up Dr Andrew Holness, leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and prime minister of Jamaica, last night told Labourites that the third term is not guaranteed, insisting "we have to work for it".

The prime minister, who is being investigated for illicit enrichment by anti-corruption agency, the Integrity Commission, sought to use his personal story to guide party workers about how to approach the upcoming general elections.

"I have never been given anything free, I have had to work for anything that I have had," he said during a St Andrew East Rural Constituency Conference in Kintyre.

"Whatever I have, I have worked hard and honestly for it. I have never gained wealth by exploiting the people, and I want to say to you that my ethic is that I believe in working for what I have," Holness said.

The JLP leader, who described himself as "100 per cent pure-bred Jamaican" said his party is working hard for the third term, and will not leave anything to chance.

"We are not believing and acting as if we are entitled to a third term, Holness said, while adding that "the time is drawing near" for the general elections.

Holness' wife, Juliet Holness, is aiming to make history in St Andrew East Rural, where she is seeking a third consecutive term as Member of Parliament -- a milestone never before achieved in the constituency.

Juliet Holness, who won the seat for the JLP in both the 2016 and 2020 general elections, will face off against the People's National Party (PNP) candidate, Patrick Peterkin. Prime Minister Holness said his wife deserves to be re-elected as she has performed in the role.

"I don't even know who is running against her, but it does not even matter, because she has distinguished herself by her works," he said.

Sunday night's massive meeting was held in the Kintyre Division, a key battleground that flipped from the JLP to the PNP in the 2024 Local Government Elections, contributing to the PNP's takeover of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation.

In her address to Labourites, Juliet Holness repeated her comment that "Jamaica is no longer a PNP experiment. She said the administration, led by her husband, has been working for Jamaica since it won power nine years ago.

"We have, after two terms, seen achievements after achievements after achievements," she said.

According to the St Andrew East Rural member of parliament, Jamaicans, including supporters of the PNP, have seen the works of the Government, and some of them are already switching allegiance to the JLP. She urged others not to "stifle your conscience", but to choose the JLP.

"Do not think for a minute that what we have done they can do. Dem caah manage di work," she said about the PNP.

Historically, St Andrew East Rural has sided with the JLP in every general election where the party formed the government -- 1980, 1983, 2007, 2016, and 2020.

Former PNP councillor Venesha Phillips called on PNP President Mark Golding to vote for the JLP.

"Mark Golding, no shame to yuh game, go behind the box, Leader of the Opposition -- do the right thing and choose Jamaica. Vote for the Jamaica Labour Party," she urged.

Cabinet minister Delroy Chuck, of St Andrew North Eastern, has urged his colleagues to increase the margin of victory in all seats to ensure the JLP wins by the widest margin ever in the popular vote. He said the party must aim to surpass the 502,115-vote record achieved by the Edward Seaga-led party in the 1980 election. The People's National Party (PNP) received 350,064 votes in that election.

For Chuck, the JLP should aim to get over 600,000 votes islandwide in the upcoming election.

"Andrew Michael Holness and his team has worked too hard not to get 600,000 votes," Chuck said.

The JLP got 408,292 votes in the 2020 general election while the PNP got 306,034.