(Jamaica Gleaner) Prime Minister Designate Portia Simpson Miller has told victorious People’s National candidates that the new Government will have a huge task to restore hope in Jamaica.
Thursday night, Simpson Miller spent 35 minutes at the lectern at the People’s National Party’s headquarters delivering her victory speech.
However, after the congratulations and expressions of gratitude for the electoral support Simpson Miller said the hard task will now begin.
Simpson Miller told a large crowd of People’s National Party supporters that very soon she will be addressing the country as the PNP moves to put in place a new Government.
In the meantime, she has asked permanent secretaries and public sector workers to ensure that Government property is protected in the transition period.
Simpson Miller said she will welcome scrutiny of her new Government, but she is urging responsibility from the Jamaica Labour Party.
Simpson Miller has promised to lead an engaging, honest and open Government.
Simpson Miller yesterday defied opinion polls that suggested that the election was too close to call, and won 41 of the 63 seats in the House of Representatives.
The JLP gained 22 seats.
The PNP also gained 53 per cent of the popular vote although the voter turn-out was 49.9 per cent.
The election win will propel the PNP’s president back to the office of Prime Minister which she held for 18 months but lost a mere four years ago, when her party was prised from government after more than 18 years in office.
The defeat for the Jamaica Labour Party means that for the first time since 1944 when Jamaicans gained the right to vote, an administration has been voted out after just one term in Government.
