JAMAICA: parliamentary elections House of Representatives, 1989

JAMAICA
Parliamentary Chamber: House of Representatives

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1989

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Chamber:

House of Representatives

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

9 February 1989

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for all the seats in the House of Representatives on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.

Background and outcome of elections:

The election date was announced on 15 January 1989. The poll was principally fought on the basis of tight fiscal management with consequential austerity measures, against the contention of neglect to basic social needs in health, education, housing, etc. The outgoing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government, headed by Prime Minister Edward Seaga, campaigned on its performance while in power, arguing that it engineered economic recovery by good fiscal management, while the opposition socialist People's National Party (PNP) contended that the austerity measures were too severe and to the detriment of the people in putting "balancing the books" before basic "welfare of the people". The JLP felt that it took "cash to care" whereas the PNP thought that a better mix was necessary. In August 1988, the two rivals had signed a pact agreeing to a code of behaviour for the campaign to avoid the violence of previous contests. This resulted in scattered incidents in comparison with the previous (1980) contested poll.
The polling results indicated that the electorate opted for less austerity and the rebuilding of the social services, as PNP, in a landslide, obtained 45 of the House's 60 Seats. As a result, PNP leader Michael Manley became Prime Minister on 13 February, thus recapturing the post he had held until 1980. The new PNP Cabinet was announced the same day.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (9 February 1989): Elections results

Number of registered electors 1,078,760

Voters 845,548 (78.38%)

Blank or invalid ballot papers 8,734

Valid votes 836,814

Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group Candidates Votes %

People's National Party (PNP) 60 463,080 55.8

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) 60 366,509 44.1

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total

People's National Party (PNP) 45

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) 15

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 57

Women: 3

Distribution of seats according to age:

30-40 years 4

40-50 years 24

50-60 years 23

Over 60 years 9

Distribution of seats according to profession:

Businessmen 25

Lawyers 10

Trade Unionists 6

Farmers 5

Physicians 5

Sociologists/social workers 3

Teachers 4

Accountants/economists 2

<<< Return to the Historical Archive page of parliamentary election results for JAMAICA <<<

Chamber:
	House of Representatives
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	9 February 1989
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats in the House of Representatives on the normal expiry of the members' term of office.
Background and outcome of elections:
	The election date was announced on 15 January 1989. The poll was principally fought on the basis of tight fiscal management with consequential austerity measures, against the contention of neglect to basic social needs in health, education, housing, etc. The outgoing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government, headed by Prime Minister Edward Seaga, campaigned on its performance while in power, arguing that it engineered economic recovery by good fiscal management, while the opposition socialist People's National Party (PNP) contended that the austerity measures were too severe and to the detriment of the people in putting "balancing the books" before basic "welfare of the people". The JLP felt that it took "cash to care" whereas the PNP thought that a better mix was necessary. In August 1988, the two rivals had signed a pact agreeing to a code of behaviour for the campaign to avoid the violence of previous contests. This resulted in scattered incidents in comparison with the previous (1980) contested poll. The polling results indicated that the electorate opted for less austerity and the rebuilding of the social services, as PNP, in a landslide, obtained 45 of the House's 60 Seats. As a result, PNP leader Michael Manley became Prime Minister on 13 February, thus recapturing the post he had held until 1980. The new PNP Cabinet was announced the same day.

Round no 1 (9 February 1989): Elections results
Number of registered electors	1,078,760
Voters	845,548 (78.38%)
Blank or invalid ballot papers	8,734
Valid votes	836,814

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	Candidates	Votes	%
People's National Party (PNP)	60	463,080	55.8
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)	60	366,509	44.1

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
People's National Party (PNP)	45
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)	15

Distribution of seats according to age:
30-40 years	4
40-50 years	24
50-60 years	23
Over 60 years	9
Distribution of seats according to profession:
Businessmen	25
Lawyers	10
Trade Unionists	6
Farmers	5
Physicians	5
Sociologists/social workers	3
Teachers	4
Accountants/economists	2