Jamaica Labour Party
Encyclopedia
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is one of the two major political parties
in Jamaica
, the other being the People's National Party
. Despite its name, the JLP is a centre-right
, conservative party.
as the political wing of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union
. It won the 1944 general elections
with 22 of the 32 seats. It went on to win the 1949 elections
with a reduced majority, before losing power to the PNP in the 1955 elections
. It remained in opposition following the 1959 elections
, but was victorious in 1962
. In 1964 Bustamante retired from politics, he did not relinquish the title of party leader for several years, until the party gave him the honorific title of "The Chief" following its defeat in the 1972 elections
. In the interim, the party was led by Donald Sangster
(until 1967) and Hugh Shearer
(until 1974), having the title of "First Deputy Leader".
In 1974 Edward Seaga
became the second leader of the party. The party lost the 1976 elections
, but Seaga became Prime Minister after victory in 1980
when the party won 51 of the 60 seats. In an election boycotted by the opposition in 1983
the JLP won all sixty seats. They were defeated in the 1989 elections
and went on to lose elections in 1993
, 1997
and 2002
. In 2005 Bruce Golding
succeeded Seaga as head of the party, and led it to victory in the 2007 elections
.
Golding resigned as head of the party in October 2011, and was succeeded by current leader Andrew Holness.
The JLP uses the Liberty Bell
, the victory sign, and the colour green
as electoral symbols.
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, the other being the People's National Party
People's National Party
The People's National Party is a social democratic and social liberal Jamaican political party, founded by Norman Manley in 1938. It is the oldest political party in the Anglophone Caribbean and one of the main two political parties in Jamaica. Out of the two major parties, it is considered more...
. Despite its name, the JLP is a centre-right
Centre-right
The centre-right or center-right is a political term commonly used to describe or denote individuals, political parties, or organizations whose views stretch from the centre to the right on the left-right spectrum, excluding far right stances. Centre-right can also describe a coalition of centrist...
, conservative party.
Background
The party was founded on 8 July 1943 by Alexander BustamanteAlexander Bustamante
Sir William Alexander Clarke Bustamante GBE, National Hero of Jamaica was a Jamaican politician and labour leader....
as the political wing of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union
Bustamante Industrial Trade Union
The Bustamante Industrial Trade Union is a trade union center in Jamaica established by Sir Alexander Bustamante. It is affiliated to the global union federation - International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers' Association....
. It won the 1944 general elections
Jamaican general election, 1944
General elections were held in Jamaica on 12 December 1944. The result was a victory for the Jamaica Labour Party, which won 22 of the 32 seats. Voter turnout was 58.7%.-Results:...
with 22 of the 32 seats. It went on to win the 1949 elections
Jamaican general election, 1949
General elections were held in Jamaica on 20 December 1949. Although the People's National Party received more votes, the Jamaica Labour Party won a majority of seats. Voter turnout was 65.2%.-Results:...
with a reduced majority, before losing power to the PNP in the 1955 elections
Jamaican general election, 1955
General elections were held in Jamaica on 12 January 1955. The result was a victory for the People's National Party, which won 18 of the 32 seats. Voter turnout was 65.1%.-Results:...
. It remained in opposition following the 1959 elections
Jamaican general election, 1959
General elections were held in Jamaica on 28 July 1959. The result was a victory for the People's National Party, which won 29 of the 45 seats. Voter turnout was 66.1%.-Results:...
, but was victorious in 1962
Jamaican general election, 1962
General elections were held in Jamaica on 10 April 1962. The result was a victory for the Jamaica Labour Party, which won 26 of the 45 seats. Voter turnout was 72.9%.-Results:...
. In 1964 Bustamante retired from politics, he did not relinquish the title of party leader for several years, until the party gave him the honorific title of "The Chief" following its defeat in the 1972 elections
Jamaican general election, 1972
General elections were held in Jamaica on 29 February 1972. The result was a victory for the People's National Party, which won 37 of the 53 seats. Voter turnout was 78.9%.-Results:...
. In the interim, the party was led by Donald Sangster
Donald Sangster
Sir Donald Burns Sangster was a Jamaican politician and the second Prime Minister of Jamaica. He entered politics in 1933 at the age of 21 with his election to the council of the Parish of St Elizabeth, Jamaica...
(until 1967) and Hugh Shearer
Hugh Shearer
Hugh Lawson Shearer, ON, OJ, PC was the third Prime Minister of Jamaica, from 1967 to 1972.Born in Martha Brae, Trelawny Parish, Jamaica, near the sugar and banana growing areas, Shearer attended St Simon's College after winning a parish scholarship to the school.In 1941 he took a job on the staff...
(until 1974), having the title of "First Deputy Leader".
In 1974 Edward Seaga
Edward Seaga
Edward Philip George Seaga ON PC was the fifth Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1980 to 1989 and Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party from 1974 to 2005. He served as leader of the opposition from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1989 until January 2005...
became the second leader of the party. The party lost the 1976 elections
Jamaican general election, 1976
General elections were held in Jamaica on 15 December 1976. The result was a victory for the People's National Party, which won 47 of the 60 seats. Voter turnout was 85.2%.-Results:...
, but Seaga became Prime Minister after victory in 1980
Jamaican general election, 1980
General elections were held in Jamaica on 30 October 1980. The result was a victory for the Jamaica Labour Party, which won 51 of the 60 seats. Voter turnout was 86.9%.-Results:...
when the party won 51 of the 60 seats. In an election boycotted by the opposition in 1983
Jamaican general election, 1983
Early general elections were held in Jamaica on 15 December 1983. The election was boycotted by the main opposition party, the People's National Party, in protest at the refusal of the ruling Jamaican Labour Party to update the electoral roll...
the JLP won all sixty seats. They were defeated in the 1989 elections
Jamaican general election, 1989
General elections were held in Jamaica on 9 February 1989. The result was a victory for the People's National Party, which won 45 of the 60 seats. Voter turnout was 78.4%.-Results:...
and went on to lose elections in 1993
Jamaican general election, 1993
General elections were held in Jamaica on 30 March 1993. The result was a victory for the People's National Party, which won 52 of the 60 seats. Voter turnout was 67.4%.-Results:...
, 1997
Jamaican general election, 1997
General elections were held in Jamaica on 18 December 1997. The ruling People's National Party of Prime Minister P. J. Patterson won 50 of the 60 seats defeating the main opposition Jamaica Labour Party.-Background:...
and 2002
Jamaican general election, 2002
General elections were held in Jamaica on 16 October 2002. The result was a victory for the People's National Party, which won 34 of the 60 seats, whilst voter turnout was 59.1%. PNP leader P. J. Patterson retained his position as Prime Minister, becoming the first political leader to win three...
. In 2005 Bruce Golding
Bruce Golding
Orette Bruce Golding MP served as Prime Minister of Jamaica from 11 September 2007 to 23 October 2011. He is a member of the Jamaica Labour Party.-Biography:...
succeeded Seaga as head of the party, and led it to victory in the 2007 elections
Jamaican general election, 2007
General elections in Jamaica were held on September 3, 2007. They had originally been scheduled for August 27, 2007 but were delayed due to Hurricane Dean. The preliminary results indicated a slim victory for the opposition Jamaican Labour Party led by Bruce Golding, which grew by two seats from...
.
Golding resigned as head of the party in October 2011, and was succeeded by current leader Andrew Holness.
The JLP uses the Liberty Bell
Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is an iconic symbol of American Independence, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Formerly placed in the steeple of the Pennsylvania State House , the bell was commissioned from the London firm of Lester and Pack in 1752, and was cast with the lettering "Proclaim LIBERTY...
, the victory sign, and the colour green
Green
Green is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light having a spectrum dominated by energy with a wavelength of roughly 520–570 nanometres. In the subtractive color system, it is not a primary color, but is created out of a mixture of yellow and blue, or yellow and cyan; it is considered...
as electoral symbols.
List of Party Leaders
- Sir Alexander Bustamante (1943–1974)
- Sir Donald Sangster (acting: 1965–1967)
- Hugh ShearerHugh ShearerHugh Lawson Shearer, ON, OJ, PC was the third Prime Minister of Jamaica, from 1967 to 1972.Born in Martha Brae, Trelawny Parish, Jamaica, near the sugar and banana growing areas, Shearer attended St Simon's College after winning a parish scholarship to the school.In 1941 he took a job on the staff...
(acting: 1967–1974) - Edward SeagaEdward SeagaEdward Philip George Seaga ON PC was the fifth Prime Minister of Jamaica from 1980 to 1989 and Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party from 1974 to 2005. He served as leader of the opposition from 1974 to 1980 and again from 1989 until January 2005...
(1974-2005) - Bruce GoldingBruce GoldingOrette Bruce Golding MP served as Prime Minister of Jamaica from 11 September 2007 to 23 October 2011. He is a member of the Jamaica Labour Party.-Biography:...
(2005–2011) - Andrew HolnessAndrew HolnessAndrew Holness is Prime Minister of Jamaica since October 2011, and was Minister of Education since 2007.Holness attended St. Catherine High School and later graduated from the University of the West Indies...
(2011-present)
- 1. Donald Sangster and Hugh Shearer were not actually leaders of the JLP but were de facto leaders during Bustamante's illness/withdrawal from active political life.