1997 Jamaican general election

Background

Prime Minister P. J. Patterson announced on 27 November that the election would be held on 18 December. Patterson saw this as the right time to go the country as his People's National Party was ahead in the opinion polls, inflation had fallen substantially and the national football team had just qualified for the 1998 World Cup.

A record 197 candidates contested the election, with a new political party, the National Democratic Movement, standing in most of the seats. The National Democratic Movement had been founded in 1995 by a former Labour Party chairman, Bruce Golding,

Campaign

The election was seen as being mainly between the governing People's National Party and the main opposition Jamaica Labour Party, led by the former Prime Minister Edward Seaga. The economy and violence were the major issues in the election, with the People's National Party maintaining a lead in the polls as the election neared.

The election was mainly free of violence as compared to previous elections, Just before the election the two main party leaders made a joint appeal for people to avoid marring the election with violence. Election day itself saw one death and 4 injuries relating to the election, but the 1980 election had seen over 800 deaths.

Results

In winning the election the People's National Party became the first party to win 3 consecutive terms. The National Democratic Movement failed to win any seats despite a pre-election prediction that they would manage to win a seat.

References

References

1. [[Dieter Nohlen]] (2005) ''Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I'', p430 {{ISBN. 978-0-19-928357-6
2. (27 November 1997). "Jamaican prime minister sets election date". [[BBC News Online]].
3. Rohter, Larry. (18 December 1997). "In Jamaica, Violence Is the Issue". [[The New York Times]].
4. (3 December 1997). "Electoral violence in Jamaica". [[BBC News Online]].
5. (June 2023). "Jamaican ruling party victorious by landslide". [[The Spokesman-Review]] }}{{Dead link.
6. (19 December 1997). "One dead in Jamaica election violence". [[BBC News Online]].
7. (20 December 1997). "Jamaica Re-Elects Patterson". [[The Ledger]].
8. (18 December 1997). "Voting begins in Jamaican general election". [[BBC News Online]].
9. (20 December 1997). "Landslide for ruling party". [[The Guardian]].
10. Adams, David. (20 December 1997). "Jamaica returns Patterson". [[The Times]].
11. (17 December 1997). "PNP may secure third term by midnight, Thursday". [[Jamaica Gleaner]].