Jamaica Labour Party

From Jamaica Wiki

Jamaican Labour Party (JLP) is a right-wing political party currently in power in the island nation of Jamaica. The present Jamaican Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, is also the leader of the JLP today. The JLP follows the political ideologies of conservatism and liberalism. The Liberty Bell and the color green are instantly recognized as the electoral symbols of the JLP all over Jamaica. Jamaican Labour Party and the People’s National Party (PNP) are the two major parties that have played a role in Jamaican political history.

The JLP has a rather long and distinguished history in plying the political trade in this Caribbean nation. Alexander Bustamante, an illustrious character in the political history of Jamaica, established this conservative party as early as 1943. The party initially took form as the political wing of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union founded by Bustamante himself. Following the attainment of full independence in 1962, the first Jamaican government was formed by the JLP with Alexander Bustamante assuming the mantle of Prime minister. The JLP continued to be in power till 1972 when it lost the elections to PNP. During these initial ten decades of Jamaican independence, Donald Sangster and Hugh Shearer also held the Prime Ministerial post, though Bustamante remained as the party leader.

The first ten years also proved to be the golden age for Jamaica with strong economic growth (almost six percent per annum) especially in the industries of bauxite, tourism and manufacturing. Discontent over the distribution of this economic prosperity and a global economic slowdown removed JLP from power in 1972. But due to the continuing deterioration of the social and economic apparatus of the country throughout the following years, JLP was again voted to power in 1980 and stayed in power till 1989 before losing to PNP again.

JLP has had a succession of eminent persons as its party leaders over the years. The founder of JLP, Alexander Bustamante, is decorated with the Order of the British Empire and is a National Hero of Jamaica. Bustamante continued to hold the post of party leader and Prime Minister of Jamaica till 1967. His party also gave him the honorific title of ‘The Chief’. Donald Sangster and Hugh Shearer led the party in the following period. Edward Seaga held the post of party leader for a long period from 1974 to 2005 and the post of Prime Minister from 1980 to 1989. Bruce Golding, the present leader, came into the scene after Seaga.

The Jamaica Labour Party came into power in the general elections held in September 2007. The general elections were originally scheduled for August 2007, but were unexpectedly postponed due to onset of Hurricane Dean. The Jamaican Labour Party replaced the People’s National Party as the major power in the Jamaican legislature as a result of the 2007 elections. The People’s National Party had run the government of Jamaica for eighteen continuous years until JLP came to power in 2007. Though the JLP held only a narrow lead over the PNP initially, they were awarded two more seats after a recount, which further consolidated their position. With a clear majority of 33 out of 60 seats, JLP was able to form the government with Bruce Golding as the Prime Minister. .