People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding is turning up the heat on Prime Minister Andrew Holness, warning that any further delay in naming the date for the next general election could see him “forced into a corner” by the Jamaican Constitution.
“This moment is your moment, this moment is our moment,” Golding told a large crowd of Comrades gathered in Musgrave Square on Thursday night, during a rally where the party’s four standard bearers for St Ann were officially introduced.
“Andrew can run but him cyaan hide, election must call because if him don’t call it the constitution will call it and we going to vote dem out because the people want better. Time come for a better life,” Golding declared in his 25-minute address.
Jamaica does not operate with a fixed election date, giving the prime minister discretion on when to call voters to the polls. However, Section 64 of the Jamaican Constitution stipulates that Parliament must be dissolved no later than five years after its first sitting. Following the September 3, 2020 election, Parliament first convened on September 15, meaning it will automatically dissolve on or before September 14, 2025. Under Section 65, a general election must then be held within three months of that dissolution.
Golding encouraged supporters to vote not just for the PNP, but for themselves, their families, and Jamaica’s future. “I’m asking you to commit yourselves to building a better Jamaica, working and walking hand-in-hand with the People’s National Party. I think that time has come for us to vote for hope, time come for us to vote for fairness, time come for us to vote for leadership that puts the people of this country first and not your pocket first,” he said.
The remarks come amid heightened political activity, with both the PNP and governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) ramping up public appearances, rolling out policy proposals, and engaging in grassroots mobilization.
JLP Chairman Robert Montague recently declared the party ready for a third consecutive term, saying its election machinery is energized and prepared.
Earlier this year, Minister of Legal and Constitutional Affairs Marlene Malahoo Forte drew criticism for stating that talk of a constitutionally mandated election by September was inaccurate. In a recent court ruling, Supreme Court Justice Lorna Shelly-Williams confirmed that Parliament must be dissolved no later than September 14, 2025, aligning with constitutional timelines.
As the political temperature rises, Jamaicans are now watching closely for the prime minister’s next move—especially as campaign season appears to be in full swing.
 President Mark Golding is urging Prime Minister Andrew Holness to name the date for the next general election.){kind=link}