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Jamaica Goes to the Polls as PM Who Led Turnaround Seeks Third Term

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  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, September 3rd 2025 at 8:00 GMT by Bloomberg L.P.
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Jamaica’s 2025 Election: Andrew Holness Pitches a “Third‑Term Turnaround”

On September 3, 2025, Bloomberg’s Jamaica beat went live with a front‑page feature on the island’s upcoming general election. The story, anchored by a headline that reads “Jamaica Election 2025: Holness Seeks Third Term After Leading Turnaround,” lays out the political landscape, the incumbent’s record, and the stakes for voters in the West Indian nation’s next major political showdown.

The Incumbent’s Narrative

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, who first took office in 2016 after a landslide win over the long‑time ruling People’s National Party (PNP), is now pushing for a historic third term. Bloomberg’s article frames Holness’s campaign as one built on the narrative of a “turnaround” – a term that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been using to highlight its economic and social gains over the past decade.

The piece cites a recent series of government statistics that Bloomberg linked to in a side‑panel. According to the Ministry of Finance, Jamaica’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew an impressive 4.1 % in 2024, the fastest pace in 25 years. Tourism, the country’s largest export, rebounded from the COVID‑19 slump and posted a 12 % increase in visitor arrivals in the first quarter of 2025. The JLP also boasts a 35‑year record for reducing the national debt from $11 billion to $9.2 billion, thanks to a mix of austerity and new revenue‑raising measures.

Holness’s platform, as described in the article, is a “Triple‑P Plan” – public‑sector reform, private‑sector growth, and protection of the nation’s natural assets. He promises to keep up the momentum on the “Sustainability Agenda,” a pledge made in 2023 to reduce Jamaica’s carbon footprint by 20 % by 2030. His campaign’s imagery heavily leans on the image of a “new, cleaner Jamaica” that “tells a story of resilience.”

Bloomberg also includes a short profile of Holness, tracing his path from a small‑town lawyer to a two‑term prime minister. The profile highlights the 2020 campaign’s emphasis on “Security, Growth, and Fairness.” Those themes echo through the campaign ads that the article shows in its accompanying photo gallery.

The Opposition’s Counter‑Narrative

Opposition parties are not silent. Bloomberg’s story links to a separate piece on the PNP’s leadership and their own campaign platform. The PNP, led by Dr. Glen Johnson – a former university professor who took over the party in 2024 – has capitalized on rising public concern about crime, unemployment, and cost of living. Johnson’s key promises include an overhaul of the police force, a new national minimum‑wage hike, and a focus on “inclusive growth.”

The article notes that the PNP’s latest polling numbers show a gap of just 3–4 % between it and the JLP. Critics of Holness’s administration point to the island’s rising crime rate, which has hit a 10‑year high, and a steady climb in the inflation rate that has eroded real wages. “The ‘turnaround’ narrative has started to feel hollow to a segment of the electorate that feels left behind,” the Bloomberg writer observes, citing a quote from an anonymous political analyst.

Election Mechanics and Timing

The election is scheduled for December 28, 2025, a date that Bloomberg confirmed via the Jamaica Electoral Commission’s official website. The article explains that Jamaica’s parliamentary system allows the incumbent prime minister to call a general election at any point within a five‑year term, and Holness’s choice of a late‑winter vote is part of a strategy to consolidate his gains in the tourism season.

Bloomberg also follows up on the logistics of the vote. It cites the Electoral Commission’s statement that “more than 1.2 million citizens are registered, and the voter‑turnout in the 2020 election was 68 %.” A new technology rollout, the introduction of electronic ballot boxes in 12 major constituencies, is touted as a “turnkey solution to reduce fraud and speed up results.”

Regional and Global Context

The article does not shy away from the broader implications of the Jamaica election. The JLP’s hold on the island is seen as a bellwether for the Caribbean region, where many governments face similar economic pressures. Bloomberg’s correspondent, who had previously reported on the Caribbean’s tourism rebound, notes that a Holness win would likely signal “continued support for the current trade deals with the United States and the European Union.”

A link in the story leads to Bloomberg’s coverage of the Caribbean Development Bank’s latest financial review, which highlights Jamaica’s 2023 “Economic Resilience” report. The link reinforces Holness’s claim that Jamaica has “made a comeback” after the global pandemic.

Bottom Line

By the time the article wraps up, readers have a clear picture of what is at stake in Jamaica’s 2025 election. Andrew Holness’s campaign, built on a narrative of economic revival and public‑sector reform, faces a formidable opposition that is keen to tap into the island’s growing discontent over crime, wages, and public services. The JLP’s “turnaround” record is on the table, but the PNP’s fresh critique and the country’s high voter turnout could keep the outcome in the balance.

For voters who joined the debate in the lead‑up to the election, the story offers a concise yet comprehensive map: who is running, what they promise, and why the next parliamentary term matters. As Bloomberg’s article closes, it underscores the timeless reality of democratic politics: a new narrative can only succeed if it resonates with the everyday realities of the people.