Prime Minister Andrew Holness officially set September 3 as the date for Jamaica’s general election during a mass rally in Kingston on Sunday night. The announcement ends months of speculation and signals the start of a crucial political season as Jamaicans at home and abroad prepare to cast their ballots.
Speaking to thousands of supporters clad in green, Holness acknowledged the vital role of Jamaicans living overseas, many of whom are making plans to return home to participate in the democratic process. “Remember now, we are international. It is amazing, as I was walking and I stopped somewhere, somebody say ‘tek my phone and say hello to mi neice. She deh a farrin and she wah come home come vote.’ So I want to acknowledge all the Jamaicans in the diaspora who are interested to come home and vote. I welcome you back home, I’m grateful for your support,” Holness said.
This rallying call has resonated deeply within diaspora communities, especially in South Florida, which hosts one of the largest Jamaican populations outside of the island.
“I’ve been waiting for this election to be called so I can finally book my flight back,” said Marcia Campbell, a nurse living in Miami for the past decade. “Voting back home is important to me because I want to help shape the future of the country where I was born and raised. I’m telling all my family and friends here to do the same.”
Another diaspora resident, Andre Williams, who runs a small business in Fort Lauderdale, added, “We’ve seen a lot happen over the past few years — from COVID to natural disasters — and it’s time to make sure our voices are heard. We’re not just watching from afar. We care deeply, and we’re coming home in full force.”
The electoral timetable also includes nomination day for parliamentary candidates on August 18. Holness is seeking a historic third consecutive term, aiming to match the legacy of former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.
“I don’t need to tell you that this is the best-performing government in the history of Jamaica. This is the strongest, most active, and most strategic government ever,” he told a sea of party supporters clad in green party attire, noting that his labor party (JLP) successfully guided the nation through the COVID pandemic and last year’s battering from Hurricane Beryl. “And we never missed a beat. We take the resources and we make them more. We are good stewards, and we ask you, the people, the masters, to make a judgment and make a choice on who will steward your affairs.”
Meanwhile, the opposition People’s National Party (PNP), led by Mark Golding, is gearing up for a strong challenge. Although the party narrowly lost the 2024 local government elections by a razor-thin margin—a surprising result that caught many JLP members and supporters off guard—it has nonetheless boosted confidence within the PNP and among voters calling for change.
Diaspora voters have often been a crucial swing factor in past elections, with their participation increasingly recognized as vital for Jamaica’s democratic process.
