There is fervent speculation echoing through the streets of Jamaica, suggesting that the Hon. Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, may renege on his promise to call the Local Government Elections by February 2024. This purported course of action is attributed to a decline in his poll numbers.
Andrew Holness is widely recognized for failing to uphold his promises. For instance, during his time as the opposition leader in 2016, he delivered a speech at a rally in Sam Sharpe Square on February 7, during which he made several commitments that remain unfulfilled. Notable among these pledges are the following:
“Within our first 100 days of Government, we will start the legislative process to fix the date for general elections in Jamaica. This will bring greater certainty to the political process, and, by the way, the date will be a date after the Budget and not before,” said Holness.
“So no government will be able to come and make false promises and hide the truth and tell you half-truths and trick you into voting for them, and then when they win, they draw poison on you.”
Holness said he would also consider introducing impeachment proceedings in Parliament on the matter of integrity in the Jamaican legislature.
“Within the first 100 days of our Government, we will start the legislative process to institute impeachment proceedings in Parliament. This will add another layer of protection for the Parliament to ensure that only members of unquestioned integrity sit in the Parliament.”
However, if the PM aspires to rehabilitate his waning credibility among the Jamaican populace, he has no alternative but to honor his commitment and call the local government elections within the stipulated timeframe, as pledged to the people of Jamaica.
Moreover, the Jamaican Constitution expressly mandates the holding of local elections every four years. The preceding local elections took place in November 2016, signifying that elections should have occurred in 2020, which the Government deferred due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and again in 2023.
During the quarterly press briefing of the Office of the Prime Minister on Thursday, August 3, 2023, The Most Hon. Andrew Holness confirmed his administration’s determination to adhere to the constitutional requirements concerning the local government elections.
Mr. Holness emphasized in response to queries from the media that the local government elections, last conducted in November 2016, are scheduled to take place by February 28, 2024.
However, Mr. Holness cautioned that “if something happens… if there is an exogenous shock… a weather event, then, certainly, the possibility of further postponement would have to be considered.”
“But, as of now, it is the Government’s unequivocal intention to fulfill its constitutional obligations in relation to holding local government elections,” reaffirmed the Prime Minister.