Jamaican Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller has called an early election, declaring that the country will go to the polls later this month, on Feb 25. She made the announcement at a rally for her People's National Party (PNP) in Half-Way-Tree, St. Andrew on Sunday night, saying that her team is committed to having a "peaceful campaign," according to The Associated Press.
Leading up to the announcement, she highlighted the accomplishments of her administration through the past four years in office while also noting that there are challenges ahead: "All our problems have not been solved. Some people are still hurting and in need. We knew there would be pain, but we knew it had to be done in the interest of the Jamaican people," according to Caribbean360.
The leader of the Jamaica Labor Party (JLP), Andrew Holness, said that he and his team are ready for the competition. The JLP will campaign on the theme "Partnership for Prosperity." Holness led Jamaica for more than two months before losing the December 2011 elections with a 2-1 margin, as the PNP won 42 of the 63 seats in the House of Representatives, the Jamaica Gleaner explains.
Parliament will be dissolved on Feb. 5 before candidate nominations are submitted on Feb. 9, according to TeleSUR. Simpson-Miller is seeking a second consecutive term, and this is her 10th year as leader of the PNP. She became Jamaica's first female prime minister for a brief period in 2006-2007 and was leader of the opposition until her party won the 2011 election.
There are more than 1.8 million registered voters in Jamaica. Feb. 25 will be Jamaica's 17th general election since universal human suffrage was achieved in the country in 1944.
