| Parliament name |
Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Bicameral |
| Chamber name |
House of Representatives |
| Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) |
Senate
|
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
3 September 2007 |
| Purpose of elections |
Elections were held for all the seats in the House of Representatives following premature dissolution of this body on 25 July 2007. Elections to the House of Representatives had previously taken place on 16 October 2002. |
Following a hurricane that hit the country in mid-August 2007
parliamentary elections
which had been originally scheduled for 27 August
were postponed to 3 September.
In the previous elections held in October 2002
the People's National Party (PNP) had won 34 seats
while the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) had taken the remaining 26 seats. In March 2006
Ms. Portia Simpson-Miller succeeded Mr. P.J. Patterson to become the country's first woman prime minister. Shortly before calling the elections on 8 July
she made a series of promises
including abolishing healthcare fees for children under 18 years and helping Jamaicans to acquire their own homes.
The 2007 elections saw once again a duel between the PNP and the JLP
led by Mr. Bruce Golding. Pre-election opinion polls predicted a victory for the ruling PNP
which was seeking an unprecedented fifth consecutive term in office.
A total of 146 candidates contested the 2007 elections.
As in previous elections
both parties pledged to foster economic growth
fight poverty and crime. JLP leader Mr. Golding promised to reorganize government bureaucracy and to boost economic growth by attracting foreign investment. The JLP's manifesto also included amending the Constitution to integrate the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and provide for the impeachment of public officials. The government insisted that the country could not afford to implement the JLP promises of free secondary education and health care. The Prime Minister came under severe criticism for her late response to the hurricane disaster.
A total of 60.4 per cent of the 1.3 million eligible voters turned out at the polls.
Although several violent incidents were reported prior to the elections
the actual voting went off in relative peace. Some polling stations opened late due to lack of election documents. The Organization of American States (OAS)
which sent 38 observers
said there was no widespread violence.
The opposition JLP won 32 seats
preventing the PNP from securing a fifth term in office. In all
eight women
including the outgoing Prime Minister
were elected.
The PNP
which took the remaining 28 seats
at first refused to concede defeat
accusing the JLP of vote-buying and extending the campaign beyond the cut-off point authorized under the electoral law. Street protests involving supporters of both sides ensued. Some violent incidents were reported.
On 11 September
Mr. Golding took the oath of office as the country's new Prime Minister. On 25 September
he named 13 government senators (including two women)
while Ms. Simpson-Miller
named the remaining eight senators (including one woman).
On 27 September
the newly-elected members of the House of Representatives were sworn in alongside the newly-appointed senators. The House elected Mr. Delroy Chuck as its new Speaker
while the Senate elected Mr. Oswald Harding as its President. |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 3 September 2007 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
808'240 (60.4%)
|
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) |
60 |
405'215 |
|
|
|
|
|
| People's National Party (PNP) |
60 |
402'275 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
Number of women |
|
|
|
| Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) |
32
|
3 |
|
|
|
| People's National Party (PNP) |
28
|
5 |
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
52
8
13.33%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
Sources:
- http://www.jamaicaelections.com/general/2007/
- House of Representatives (14.09.2007, 27.11.2012) |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
