South Florida

Jamaica Set to Vote on Prime Minister

The campaign stumping has come to an end for the candidates vying for power in Jamaica and now the voters must decide who will better serve their country.

The race has incumbent Portia Simpson Miller of the People's National Party up against Andrew Holness of the Jamaica Labour Party.

It's a race that has both candidates running neck and neck.

Dahlia Walker Huntington, a lawyer and magistrate in Miramar, says there are a number of reasons for Holness' rise in the polls including his party's promise to cut taxes.

"Over the past two weeks the polls have indicated that it's going to be a very tight race," she said.

With about 500,000 Jamaicans living in South and Central Florida, the race to the "Jamaica House" is all the talk at popular eateries like Golden Crust in Tamarac and Aunt I's in Pembroke Pines.

"I'm looking for the best for Jamaica, regardless of the PNP or Labour," Winston Grant said.

The economy, unemployment and violence continue to be concerns for many in the Caribbean island nation of 2.8 million. But if citizens need a change in government, pundits say voters need to turn out in record numbers, as we saw in 2007 when the Labor Party came out as victors in a historic win.

Contact Us