Editing History of Jamaica (section)

====18 years of PNP rule====
<gallery>
File:Michael Manley.jpg|[[Michael Manley]], Prime Minister from 1989 to 1992 (his second term)
File:PJPatterson.jpg|[[P. J. Patterson]], Prime Minister from 1992 to 2006
File:Portia Miller Shoot.Jpeg|[[Portia Simpson-Miller]], Prime Minister from 2006 to 2007 (her first term) and from 2012 to 2016
</gallery>

The [[Jamaican general election, 1989|1989 election]]. was the first election contested by the People's National Party since 1980, as they had boycotted the [[Jamaican general election, 1983|1983 snap election]]. Prime Minister [[Edward Seaga]] announced the election date on January 15, 1989, at a rally in [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]].<ref>Treaster, Joseph B., [https://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/17/world/jamaica-election-set-for-february.html "Jamaica election set for February"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919233842/http://www.nytimes.com/1989/01/17/world/jamaica-election-set-for-february.html |date=2016-09-19 }}, ''The New York Times'', 17 January 1989.</ref> He cited emergency conditions caused by [[Hurricane Gilbert]] in 1988 as the reason for extending the parliamentary term beyond its normal five-year mandate.<ref>Lansford, Tom (2014). "Political Handbook of the World 2014", p. 717. {{ISBN|9781483333274}}.</ref>

The date and tone of the election were shaped in part by [[Hurricane Gilbert]], which made landfall in September 1988 and decimated the island. The hurricane caused almost $1 billion worth of damage to the island, with banana and coffee crops wiped out and thousands of homes destroyed. Both parties engaged in campaigning through the distribution of relief supplies, a hallmark of the Jamaican patronage system. Political commentators noted that prior to the hurricane, Edward Seaga and the JLP trailed Michael Manley and the PNP by twenty points in opinion polls. The ability to provide relief as the party in charge allowed Seaga to improve his standing among voters and erode the inevitability of Manley's victory. However, scandals related to the relief effort cost Seaga and the JLP some of the gains made immediately following the hurricane. Scandals that emerged included National Security Minister [[Errol Anderson]] personally controlling a warehouse full of disaster relief supplies and candidate [[Joan Gordon-Webley]] distributing American-donated flour in sacks with her picture on them.<ref>Kurlansky, Mark, [https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/27/magazine/showdown-in-jamaica.html?pagewanted=all "Showdown in Jamaica"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170730111133/http://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/27/magazine/showdown-in-jamaica.html?pagewanted=all |date=2017-07-30 }}, ''The New York Times'', 27 November 1988.</ref>

The election was characterised by a narrower ideological difference between the two parties on economic issues. Michael Manley facilitated his comeback campaign by moderating his leftist positions and admitting mistakes made as prime minister, saying he erred when he involved government in economic production and had abandoned all thoughts of nationalising industry. He cited the PNP's desire to continue the market-oriented policies of the JLP government, but with a more participatory approach.<ref>Garrity, Michele and Picard, Louis A. "Policy Reform for Sustainable Development in the Caribbean", p. 39. {{ISBN|9784274900990}}.</ref> Prime Minister Edward Seaga ran on his record of economic growth and the reduction of unemployment in Jamaica, using the campaign slogan "Don't Let Them Wreck It Again" to refer to Manley's tenure as prime minister.<ref name="Sun Sentinel">Melvin, Don, [http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-02-06/news/8901070618_1_michael-manley-minister-jamaica-labour-party "Personalities Of Candidates Key Issue In Jamaica Election"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919230453/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1989-02-06/news/8901070618_1_michael-manley-minister-jamaica-labour-party |date=2016-09-19 }}, ''Sun Sentinel'', 6 February 1989.</ref> Seaga during his tenure as prime minister emphasised the need to tighten public sector spending and cut close to 27,000 public sector jobs in 1983 and 1984.<ref>Tanna, Laura, [http://mobile.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100314/arts/arts4.php "On development and losing elections"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714121723/http://mobile.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20100314/arts/arts4.php |date=2014-07-14 }} (interview with former Prime Minister Edward Seaga), ''Jamaica Gleaner'', 14 March 2010.</ref> He shifted his plans as elections neared with a promise to spend J$1 billion on a five-year Social Well-Being Programme, which would build new hospitals and schools in Jamaica.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20040111/focus/focus5.html |title=Missed opportunities: From old partners to new partnerships |author=Buddan, Robert |work=Jamaica Gleaner|date=11 January 2004|access-date=7 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714222246/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20040111/focus/focus5.html |archive-date=14 July 2014 }}</ref> Foreign policy also played a role in the 1989 election. Prime Minister Edward Seaga emphasised his relations with the United States, a relationship that saw Jamaica receiving considerable economic aid from the U.S. and additional loans from international institutions.<ref>Libby, Ronald T., [http://sites.middlebury.edu/themoderncaribbean/files/2011/02/JamiacaunderSeaga.pdf "The United States and Jamaica: Playing the American Card"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714115450/http://sites.middlebury.edu/themoderncaribbean/files/2011/02/JamiacaunderSeaga.pdf |date=2014-07-14 }}, ''Latin American Perspectives'', Vol. 17, No. 1, Caribbean Crisis and Global Restructuring (Winter 1990), pp. 86–109.</ref> Manley pledged better relations with the United States while at the same time pledging to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba that had been cut under Seaga.<ref name="Sun Sentinel"/> With Manley as prime minister, [[Jamaica–United States relations|Jamaican-American relations]] had significantly frayed as a result of Manley's economic policies and close relations with Cuba.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://countrystudies.us/caribbean-islands/36.htm |title="Relations with the United States, Britain, and Canada". |access-date=2015-05-07 |archive-date=2016-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103011730/http://countrystudies.us/caribbean-islands/36.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The PNP was ultimately victorious and Manley's second term focused on liberalising Jamaica's economy, with the pursuit of a free-market programme that stood in marked contrast to the interventionist economic policies pursued by Manley's first government. Various measures were, however, undertaken to cushion the negative effects of liberalisation. A Social Support Programme was introduced to provide welfare assistance for poor Jamaicans. In addition, the programme focused on creating direct employment, training, and credit for much of the population.<ref name="ReferenceD"/> The government also announced a 50% increase in the number of food stamps for the most vulnerable groups (including pregnant women, nursing mothers, and children) was announced. A small number of community councils were also created. In addition, a limited land reform programme was carried out that leased and sold the land to small farmers, and land plots were granted to hundreds of farmers. The government also had an admirable record in housing provision, while measures were also taken to protect consumers from illegal and unfair business practices.<ref name="ReferenceD"/>

In 1992, citing health reasons, Manley stepped down as prime minister and PNP leader. His former [[Deputy Prime Minister of Jamaica|Deputy Prime Minister]], [[Percival Patterson]], assumed both offices. Patterson led efforts to strengthen the country's social protection and security systems{{snd}}a critical element of his economic and social policy agenda to mitigate, reduce poverty and social deprivation.<ref>Franklyn, Delano (ed.): 2002. ''The Challenges of Change: P. J. Patterson Budget Presentations 1992–2002''. Kingston, Jamaica: [[Ian Randle Publishers]].</ref> His massive investments in modernisation of Jamaica's [[infrastructure]] and restructuring of the country's financial sector are widely credited with having led to Jamaica's greatest period of investment in tourism, mining, [[Information and communication technologies|ICT]] and energy since the 1960s. He also ended Jamaica's 18-year borrowing relationship with the [[International Monetary Fund]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.imf.org/external/country/jam/index.htm |title=Jamaica and the IMF. |access-date=2015-05-02 |archive-date=2015-05-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501205756/http://www.imf.org/external/country/jam/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> allowing the country greater latitude in pursuit of its economic policies.

Patterson led the PNP to resounding victories in the [[Jamaican general election, 1993|1993]] and [[Jamaican general election, 1997|1997 elections]]. Patterson called the [[Jamaican general election, 1997|1997 election]] in November 1997, when his People's National Party was ahead in the [[opinion poll]]s, [[inflation]] had fallen substantially and the [[Jamaica national football team|national football team]] had just qualified for the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]].<ref name=date>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/35017.stm | title = Jamaican prime minister sets election date | access-date = 18 July 2009 | date = 27 November 1997 | work = [[BBC News Online]] | archive-date = 30 July 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170730083610/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/35017.stm | url-status = live }}</ref> The [[Jamaican general election, 1993|previous election in 1993]] had seen the People's National Party win 52 of the 60 seats.<ref name=issue>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/18/world/in-jamaica-violence-is-the-issue.html | title = In Jamaica, Violence Is the Issue | access-date = 18 July 2009 | date = 18 December 1997 | newspaper = The New York Times | first = Larry | last = Rohter | archive-date = 19 May 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150519003943/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/18/world/in-jamaica-violence-is-the-issue.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

A record 197 candidates contested the election,<ref name=electoral>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/36618.stm | title = Electoral violence in Jamaica | access-date = 18 July 2009 | date = 3 December 1997 | work = [[BBC News Online]] | archive-date = 30 July 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170730083415/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/36618.stm | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name=victorious>{{cite news | url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=9jYSAAAAIBAJ&pg=6654,8901089&dq=jamaica+election+results | title = Jamaican ruling party victorious by landslide | access-date = 19 July 2009 | date = 18 December 1997 | newspaper = [[The Spokesman-Review]] }}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> with a new political party, the [[National Democratic Movement (Jamaica)|National Democratic Movement]], standing in most of the seats.<ref name=violence>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/40342.stm | title = One dead in Jamaica election violence | access-date = 2009-07-18 | date = 19 December 1997 | work = [[BBC News Online]] | archive-date = 2023-07-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230702122923/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/40342.stm | url-status = live }}</ref> The National Democratic Movement had been founded in 1995 by a former Labour Party chairman, [[Bruce Golding]],<ref name=violence/> after a dispute over the leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party.<ref name=reelects>{{cite news| url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rLoSAAAAIBAJ&pg=6614,2789407&dq=national-democratic-movement+bruce+golding | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130124234051/http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=rLoSAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vPwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6614,2789407&dq=national-democratic-movement+bruce+golding | url-status= dead | archive-date =24 January 2013| title = Jamaica Re-Elects Patterson | access-date =18 July 2009 |date =20 December 1997 | newspaper = [[The Ledger]]}}</ref>

The 1997 election was mainly free of violence<ref name=landslide>{{Cite news| title = Landslide for ruling party | work =The Guardian | page = 14 | date =20 December 1997 }}</ref> as compared to previous elections,<ref name=violence/> although it began with an incident where rival [[motorcade]]s from the main parties were fired on.<ref name=issue/> The election was the first in Jamaica where a team of international [[election monitor]]s attended.<ref name=issue/> The monitors were from the [[Carter Center]] and included [[Jimmy Carter]], [[Colin Powell]] and former [[heavyweight]] [[boxing]] world champion [[Evander Holyfield]].<ref name=kissing>{{cite news | url = https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/19/world/top-hill-journal-at-polls-in-jamaica-kissing-cousin-from-america.html | title = Top Hill Journal; At Polls in Jamaica, Kissing Cousin From America | access-date = 19 July 2009 | date = 19 December 1997 | newspaper = The New York Times | first = Larry | last = Rohter | archive-date = 19 May 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150519014249/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/19/world/top-hill-journal-at-polls-in-jamaica-kissing-cousin-from-america.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Just before the election the two main party leaders made a joint appeal for people to avoid marring the election with violence.<ref name=violence/> Election day itself saw one death and four injuries relating to the election, but the [[Jamaican general election, 1980|1980 election]] had seen over 800 deaths.<ref name=violence/>

In winning the election the People's National Party became the first party to win three consecutive terms.<ref name=landslide/> The opposition Jamaica Labour Party only had two more seats in Parliament after the election but their leader Edward Seaga held his seat for a ninth time in a row.<ref name=returns>{{Cite news| first = David | last = Adams | title = Jamaica returns Patterson | work = [[The Times]] | page = 14 | date =20 December 1997}}</ref> The National Democratic Movement failed to win any seats despite a pre-election prediction that they would manage to win a seat.<ref name=midnight>{{Cite web | url = http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/electionwatch/week12-15/pnpmay.htm | title = PNP may secure third term by midnight, Thursday | access-date = 19 July 2009 | date = 17 December 1997 | publisher = [[Jamaica Gleaner]] | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120606191053/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/electionwatch/week12-15/pnpmay.htm | archive-date = 6 June 2012 }}</ref>

The [[Jamaican general election, 2002|2002 election]]. was a victory for the [[People's National Party]], but their number of seats fell from 50 to 34 (out of 60 total).<ref name=N1>[[Dieter Nohlen|Nohlen, D.]] (2005), ''Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I'', p. 430, {{ISBN|978-0-19-928357-6}}.</ref> PNP leader [[P. J. Patterson]] retained his position as [[Prime Minister of Jamaica|Prime Minister]], becoming the first political leader to win three successive elections. Patterson stepped down on 26 February 2006, and was replaced by [[Portia Simpson-Miller]], Jamaica's first female prime minister.<ref>[http://www.feministezine.com/feminist/Jamaicas-First-Female-PM.html Jamaica's First Female Prime Minister] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210109075006/http://www.feministezine.com/feminist/Jamaicas-First-Female-PM.html |date=2021-01-09 }}, retrieved on 28 May 2007.</ref>

The [[Jamaican general election, 2007|2007 elections]]. had originally been scheduled for August 27, 2007, but were delayed to September 3 due to [[Hurricane Dean]].<sup>[https://www.thestar.com/news/2007/07/09/jamaica_slated_for_aug_27_election.html]</sup> The preliminary results indicated a slim victory for the opposition [[Jamaican Labour Party]] led by [[Bruce Golding]], which grew by two seats from 31–29 to 33–27 after official recounts. The JLP defeated the [[People's National Party]] after 18 years of unbroken governance.<ref>[http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070909/news/news2.html Pollster's diary: virtual motion picture of campaign 2007] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622031614/http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070909/news/news2.html |date=22 June 2008 }}, ''Jamaica Gleaner'', 9 September 2007.</ref>