The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) is celebrating its decisive victories in Friday’s by-elections in the Aenon Town Division in Clarendon and Morant Bay Division in St Thomas with a view that they speak volumes ahead of the general election constitutionally due in 2025.

For the PNP, the victories reflect the party’s growing national support and the public’s confidence that it will deliver meaningful change when it overthrows the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) at the polls.

There were also by-elections in the St Andrew North Constituency, which was won by the JLP’s Duane Smith and Trelawny Southern which Dalrymple Philibert captured, also for the JLP.

The PNP didn’t contest the seats as it viewed the challenge as a waste of money with the general election just around the corner.

According to the PNP’s assessment, voting in the divisions represented what voters may do in national polls.

The PNP recaptured the Aenon Town Division, which was held by the JLP since the February 2024 Local Government Election, as Delroy Dawson emerged victorious with 1,646 votes to the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) 1,592. Meanwhile, in Morant Bay, the PNP retained the Division with Rose Marie Shaw achieving a major step on her path to representing the entire Eastern St Thomas. She received 2,096 votes to the JLP’s 1,978.

Party President Mark J Golding hailed the victories as evidence of the people’s readiness for new leadership.

“These results send a clear and resounding message: the people of Jamaica are ready for change, and the People’s National Party will deliver that change. This JLP administration is hobbled by a leadership cadre who are under investigation for illicit enrichment and a prime minister whose statutory returns cannot be certified. The PNP is committed to building a Jamaica that works for all, not just a few.”

General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell added: “The victories in Aenon Town and Morant Bay are heralding what’s to come in 2025. The results are consistent with recent national polls that show that the PNP is developing a commanding lead in trust and support.

“The JLP is now a lame-duck administration that has lost the confidence of the majority. An early general election to give a fresh mandate to a new administration would be in the best interests of democracy and governance.”

The PNP thanked the voters of the Aenon Town and Morant Bay divisions for their confidence and trust. The party said it remains committed to serving with integrity, vision, and purpose.

“The hard work of our candidates, their teams, and our supporters in these by-elections reflects the unity and strength of our movement,” the party said.

The JLP has been in power for the two terms after defeating the PNP in February 2016, and then in September 2020.