JAMAICA: parliamentary elections House of Representatives, 1997

JAMAICA
Parliamentary Chamber: House of Representatives

ELECTIONS HELD IN 1997

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Chamber:

House of Representatives

Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):

18 December 1997

Purpose of elections:

Elections were held for all the seats of the House of Representatives following premature dissolution of this body on 26 November 1997. General elections had previously been held in March 1993.

Background and outcome of elections:

The 1997 general elections were called on 26 November by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson (People’s National Party - PNP). The campaign was thus relatively short, lasting 22 days.
The main challenge to the ruling (since 1989) PNP once again came from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) headed by former Premier Edward Seaga. A second threat came from the newly founded National Democratic Movement (NDM) led by Mr. Bruce Golding. These three parties altogether fielded 197 candidates for the 60 House seats. Four fringe parties and six independent individuals were also in the running. Pre-election opposition debate related to a great extent to the country’s ailing economy and rising murder rate.
As opposed to other recent campaigns, that of 1997 was generally free of violent incidents. On 17 December, the leaders of the three major parties signed a code of conduct designed to ensure a peaceful polling atmosphere. As a result, voting day - monitored by local and foreign observers, including a 60-member team from the US-based Carter Center - was largely calm but marked by a comparatively low turnout by Jamaican standards. Former US President Jimmy Carter characterise the polling Ťgenerally fair ť but involving Ť some serious problems ť. Final results gave the socialist PNP a total of 49 seats (with two results pending), thus returning it to power for an unprecedented third consecutive term (neither it nor the JLP had had more than two since independence in 1962). In this context, Mr. Patterson remained Prime Minister and his reshuffled Cabinet was sworn in on 3 January 1998.

STATISTICS

Round no 1 (18 December 1997): Elections results

Number of registered electors 1,200,000 (approx.)

Voters 60% (approx.)

Round no 1: Distribution of votes

Political Group %

People's National Party (PNP) 55

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) 40

National Democratic Movement (NDM) 5

Round no 1: Distribution of seats

Political Group Total

People's National Party (PNP) 50

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) 10

National Democratic Movement (NDM) 0

Distribution of seats according to sex:

Men: 52

Women: 8

Percent of women: 13.33

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

Chamber:
	House of Representatives
Dates of elections / renewal (from/to):
	18 December 1997
Purpose of elections:
	Elections were held for all the seats of the House of Representatives following premature dissolution of this body on 26 November 1997. General elections had previously been held in March 1993.
Background and outcome of elections:
	The 1997 general elections were called on 26 November by Prime Minister P.J. Patterson (People’s National Party - PNP). The campaign was thus relatively short, lasting 22 days. The main challenge to the ruling (since 1989) PNP once again came from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) headed by former Premier Edward Seaga. A second threat came from the newly founded National Democratic Movement (NDM) led by Mr. Bruce Golding. These three parties altogether fielded 197 candidates for the 60 House seats. Four fringe parties and six independent individuals were also in the running. Pre-election opposition debate related to a great extent to the country’s ailing economy and rising murder rate. As opposed to other recent campaigns, that of 1997 was generally free of violent incidents. On 17 December, the leaders of the three major parties signed a code of conduct designed to ensure a peaceful polling atmosphere. As a result, voting day - monitored by local and foreign observers, including a 60-member team from the US-based Carter Center - was largely calm but marked by a comparatively low turnout by Jamaican standards. Former US President Jimmy Carter characterise the polling Ťgenerally fair ť but involving Ť some serious problems ť. Final results gave the socialist PNP a total of 49 seats (with two results pending), thus returning it to power for an unprecedented third consecutive term (neither it nor the JLP had had more than two since independence in 1962). In this context, Mr. Patterson remained Prime Minister and his reshuffled Cabinet was sworn in on 3 January 1998.

Round no 1 (18 December 1997): Elections results
Number of registered electors	1,200,000 (approx.)
Voters	60% (approx.)

Round no 1: Distribution of votes
Political Group	%
People's National Party (PNP)	55
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)	40
National Democratic Movement (NDM)	5

Round no 1: Distribution of seats
Political Group	Total
People's National Party (PNP)	50
Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)	10
National Democratic Movement (NDM)	0

Distribution of seats according to sex:
Men:	52
Women:	8
Percent of women:	13.33