People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding says he’s “very disappointed” with the outcome of Wednesday’s general election but remains cheerful given that his party has increased the number of parliamentary seats.

During his address to comrades at the PNP’s headquarters in St Andrew, Wednesday night, September 3, Golding said it is his duty as a believer in democracy to acknowledge and concede.

“Jamaica’s democracy is important. We must cherish it. Sometimes it brings bitter disappointments. Sometimes, those disappointments are laced with the tinge of a sense that not all is fair and just, but it is very, very important that we put democracy ahead of all of those feelings, and I accept the result of this election,” Golding said.

“Although obviously I’m very disappointed in the outcome, I think it is only correct to expressly acknowledge the success that our opponents have managed to gain today,” he said.

Golding thanked his supporters from South St. Andrew, who voted him in with a decisive victory (9,371 votes), and campaign secretary Dayton Campbell, who was victorious in Eastern Westmoreland.

Based on preliminary results, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is projected to have won 34 seats to the PNP’s 29. The JLP entered the race with 49 of the 63 seats. The PNP was able to capture an additional 15 seats.

Golding was excited about the doubling of MPs, especially for new ones such as Isat Buchanan, who defeated JLP favourite Ann-Marie Vaz for the Eastern Portland Constituency.

“We have more than doubled our number of MPs tonight,” Golding said. “This was a wonderful demonstration of the maturity of Jamaica’s political process.”