Longstanding member of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and member of Parliament for the North West St. Elizabeth constituency J.C. Hutchinson has announced he will not seek re-election.
Hutchinson, 80, who has served as MP for almost 30 years, made the announcement on Saturday, nominating Andrew Morris, principal of Lacovia High School, as his replacement during a constituency executive meeting.
The development was confirmed by Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) General Secretary Dr. Horace Chang, who noted that Hutchinson’s decision was unexpected. “As he has indicated, he will not contest the next general election when it is called. He has explained his reason for doing so—it’s more personal,” Dr. Chang told Radio Jamaica. He added that Hutchinson remains committed to assisting the party in other capacities ahead of the election.
Morris, described by Chang as “well-established in the community,” will undergo review by the JLP’s Candidate Special Committee and the constituency committee. The nomination comes amid ongoing candidate evaluations by the party, which Dr. Chang hinted could result in further changes before nomination day.
J.C. Hutchinson’s career
J.C. Hutchinson has had a storied career in politics, first entering representational politics in 1979. The constituency of North West St. Elizabeth had always been a JLP stronghold. Hutchinson continued that dominance in 1997 when he won the seat, which he has held ever since.
Over the years, Hutchinson has held various ministerial roles, including Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, and Fisheries from 2016 to 2020. He was reassigned to the Office of the Prime Minister in 2020 and currently serves as Minister of State in the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications, and Transport—a ministry renamed in May 2023 to reflect the addition of new portfolios.
He is also one of the deputy leaders of the JLP.
Beyond politics, Hutchinson is a farmer, former teacher, and football coach at St. Elizabeth Technical High School. He is divorced and the father of three children. He attended Knox College in Manchester, Munro College in St Elizabeth and Cornell University in New York, USA.
Despite Hutchinson’s long tenure, he faced criticism from constituents. In November 2023, some residents staged a demonstration, citing lack of representation. Residents said they would not vote in the next election unless he was replaced. However, his nomination of Morris has been met with local support.
Hutchinson’s decision follows similar announcements from other JLP stalwarts, including Karl Samuda, Mike Henry, and Audley Shaw, who have all confirmed their plans to step down from representational politics. The next general election is due by September 2025.
Efforts to reach J.C. Hutchinson for further comment have been unsuccessful.
 J.C. Hutchinson says he will not seek re-election in the next general election.){kind=link}