Case for fixed election date
Published:Saturday | July 26, 2025 | 12:07 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
The last time Jamaica went to the polls in a parliamentary election was on September 3, 2020 in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. This election was also called several months before it was constitutionally due. During that election cycle, the incumbent Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) defeated the opposition People’s National Party (PNP). This victory resulted in the JLP being at the helm of Government for a second consecutive term when the 14th Parliament of Jamaica was convened in Gordon House on September 15, 2020.
Based on this timeline, a general election is imminent and the opposition People’s National Party has been calling on the Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness to call the election, often chanting from political platforms – “Call it Andrew, call it!”. The prime minister has, so far, chosen to ignore these calls.
At present, the Constitution of Jamaica does not prescribe a fixed election date. However, the prime minister is accorded flexibility in announcing the election date by following certain constitutional guidelines. While the Constitution affords this flexibility, there have been calls over the years from civil society, the citizenry and both political parties for a fixed election date, to prevent the government of the day from calling elections at a time that is politically advantageous. Such a move would likely create the environment for a fair and civil electoral process by political gamesmanship.
In this election cycle, the opposition People’s National Party is vociferous in its calls to go to the polls. At the moment, polling data shows them leading as the party of choice to form the next Government when the elections are called. The Opposition has also been accusing the Government of refusing to call the elections because the political climate is not favourable for them. This has been a common theme throughout every election cycle.
NATHANIEL MUIR