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    December 30, 2011

Jamaican Opposition Party Claims Victory In PM Election

   VOA News
   Jamaica's former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller shows her inked
   finger after casting her ballot in parliamentary elections in Kingston,
   Jamaica, December 29, 2011.
   Photo: AP
   Jamaica's former Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller shows her inked
   finger after casting her ballot in parliamentary elections in Kingston,
   Jamaica, December 29, 2011.

   Preliminary election results in Jamaica indicate a victory for the
   opposition People's National Party (PNP).
   The ruling Jamaican National Party's (JNP) campaign director conceded
   defeat Thursday on a national television broadcast. Karl Samuda said
   "we have not won, the people have spoken".
   Thursday's win returns Jamaica's first female prime minister to power.
   Portia Simpson Miller narrowly lost to the ruling Jamaica Naitional
   Party four years ago.
   Prime Minister Andrew Holness from the center-right JNP had fought to
   retain his position just two months after he was sworn in. The
   39-year-old took power when his predecessor, Bruce Golding, resigned in
   a scandal over his handling of a U.S. extradition request for a
   notorious drug gang leader.
   Now, Simpson Miller faces the task of leading her party in lowering
   Jamaica's 13 percent unemployment rate and tackling the country's
   debt-ridden and stagnant economy.
   Observers said the voting was mainly smooth and peaceful, a change from
   previous elections marred by violence.

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