JAMAICA | After three delays, Local Government Elections now set for February 26, 2024

MONTEGO BAY,  Jamaica, February 2, 2024 - The long awaited date for Jamaica’s local government elections was announced on Thursday by Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie,at a JLP party gathering  the Montego Bay convention centre, in St. James.

McKenzie told the gathering made up of constituency chairpersons, Members of Parliament, councillor candidates and party officers, that "the anticipated Local Government Elections are scheduled for February 26, with nominations set for February 8."

The last local government poll was held on November 28, 2016. That means, what would ordinarily have been a three-year term of office had been extended to more than seven years for incumbent councillors.

The announcement has been long-awaited  given the fact that the election to choose parish councillors for the island’s sixty three constituencies had been postponed three times since the last election on November 28, 2016 and was due by the end of February.

Prior to his announcement,  McKenzie's and JLP leader and Prime Minister Andrew Holness regaled their audience with tales of the government's successes, boasting that "there has never been a government of Jamaica that has had so many achievements to go and face the people with."

Party chairman Robert Montague, amidst the islandwide chorus  of bad roads, water woes and health concerns, advised that the infrastructure projects recently announced, are in keeping with what the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has been doing over the years.

“For the last seven years we, the Jamaica Labour Party, at central government and at local government has been working, fixing roads, putting up streetlights, repairing streetlights, repairing leaks,” he told The Jamaica Observer.

According to Montague “In recent times, however, there have been several announcements and groundbreakings in particular to road improvement and rehabilitation. He explained that more is expected to come.

“You don’t see road repair yet we have the SPARK programme coming, some $44 billion will be invested in the infrastructure in our communities and the community people, Prime Minister Holness has said will be asked to prioritise those roads,” he remarked.

“He insisted that the current government has never stopped working during its time and therefore whatever is happening is just the continuation of work for the benefit of the citizens.

“We are investing in our communities because the people of Jamaica had to sacrifice to get us there with various economic programmes,” he told the Observer.

He said that the party is now looking to widespread success when election day comes and the expectation for a clean sweep in western Jamaica, taking control of all the local municipal corporations.

The upcoming Local Government Elections are more than a procedural democratic exercise; they represent a critical juncture for Jamaican politics. After an unprecedented extension of terms for incumbent councillors, the elections are a litmus test for the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) governance at both local and national levels. The delay has heightened public anticipation and scrutiny, making the elections a referendum on the JLP's stewardship.

For Jamaican voters, the elections are an opportunity to voice their satisfaction or discontent with the current administration's handling of local issues, such as infrastructure development, healthcare, and water access. 

Minister McKenzie's and Prime Minister Holness's speeches underscored a promise of continued progress and an appeal for renewed trust from the electorate. However, the opposition and civic groups may view the elections as a chance to challenge the status quo and advocate for change, emphasizing areas where they believe the government has fallen short.

The emphasis on infrastructure and community investment speaks to a larger narrative within Jamaican politics about the role of government in driving economic and social development. The JLP's focus on achievements and future projects aims to solidify its image as a party of action and progress. Yet, the effectiveness of these efforts will ultimately be judged by the voters, who will consider not only the promises made but also the tangible impacts on their daily lives.

The clean sweep anticipated by the JLP in western Jamaica, including control of all local municipal corporations, would consolidate their political influence but also increase their accountability. Success in the elections would be a mandate for continuation of their policies, while any losses could signal a need for introspection and recalibration.

As Jamaica prepares for these significant Local Government Elections, the focus is not just on the outcomes but on the processes and promises that have led to this moment. 

Regardless of the results, the elections are a testament to the vibrancy of Jamaican political life and the enduring importance of civic engagement in shaping the nation's future.