Jamaica elections 2016: Decision day as voters decide between Simpson-Miller’s austerity vs Andrew Holness’ tax cuts

Jamaica’s ruling party – the People’s National Party (PNP) – is expected to win re-election on Thursday after the indebted economy returned to growth under an austerity plan, but it must fight off opposition promises of massive job creation and tax cuts.

Despite its socialist past, under incumbent Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller the PNP embraced spending cuts, wage-freezes and harsh fiscal discipline as a part of a US$1.27 billion IMF bailout.

Simpson-Miller, 70, is Jamaica’s first female head of government. During her tenure, inflation has fallen to a 48-year low. Falling oil prices have freed up government funds in the import-dependent island-nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew 1.3 percent last year.

However, unemployment remains high at around 13 percent overall and 38 percent for youth.

“We will increase the rate of economic growth, we will quicken the pace of job creation, and we will make sustained investments in our people,” Simpson-Miller said in a campaign video this week.

Andrew Holness, 43, who leads the opposition Jamaican Labor Party, briefly served as prime minister in 2011 after unrest due to the U.S. attempt to extradite drug kingpin Christopher “Dudus” Coke forced his predecessor Bruce Golding to resign.

Holness has criticized the Simpson-Miller administration’s austerity and promised steep income tax cuts he says will boost the economy’s still sluggish growth. His 10-point economic program aims to create 250,000 new jobs, many in tourism and call centers.

Opinion polls show the PNP in the lead, although the margin has narrowed over the past week. The election results are expected later on Thursday.

Source: Agencies