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| Jamaica opposition People's National Party wins poll | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Jamaica's opposition People's National Party has won national elections, preliminary results show, after a campaign dominated by the economy. | Jamaica's opposition People's National Party has won national elections, preliminary results show, after a campaign dominated by the economy. |
| The results mean a return by PNP leader Portia Simpson Miller to the post of PM. The ruling JLP has conceded defeat. | |
| Meanwhile, PM Andrew Holness will become one of the country's shortest-serving PMs in history. | Meanwhile, PM Andrew Holness will become one of the country's shortest-serving PMs in history. |
| The snap election was called earlier this month by Mr Holness who succeeded Bruce Golding as leader in October. | The snap election was called earlier this month by Mr Holness who succeeded Bruce Golding as leader in October. |
| With almost all the results declared, Mrs Simpson Miller's party has gained well over the required 32 seats for a majority in parliament. | |
| The 66-year-old veteran politician was first elected to parliament in 1976 and became Jamaica's first woman prime minister in 2006-07. | |
| She will face deep problems, with debt running at approximately 130% of GDP and unemployment at more than 12%. | |
| There was no immediate of claim of victory from Mrs Simpson Miller, but PNP campaign spokesman Franklyn Delano said the results left no room for doubt. | There was no immediate of claim of victory from Mrs Simpson Miller, but PNP campaign spokesman Franklyn Delano said the results left no room for doubt. |
| "We have been returned [to power]," Mr Delano told Jamaican TV as PNP supporters cheered in the background. | |
| The ruling Jamaican Labour Party's campaign manager, Karl Samuda, told the TV: "The people have spoken. We have not won." | |
| "We have done what we could on behalf of the people of Jamaica," he added. "There will be another day." | |
| Debt burden | Debt burden |
| Monitors said polling got off to a relatively smooth start on Thursday in a country where previous elections have been marred by violence. | Monitors said polling got off to a relatively smooth start on Thursday in a country where previous elections have been marred by violence. |
| Later some glitches were reported, such as fingerprint scanners working intermittently, leading to long queues at some of the country's polling stations. | Later some glitches were reported, such as fingerprint scanners working intermittently, leading to long queues at some of the country's polling stations. |
| But Lisa Shoman, the head of the observer mission for the Organization of American States, said her 25-member team has not reported "any disturbances or any issues that would cause us any serious concern". | But Lisa Shoman, the head of the observer mission for the Organization of American States, said her 25-member team has not reported "any disturbances or any issues that would cause us any serious concern". |
| The BBC's Nick Davis in Kingston says while violent crime used to dominate election campaigns, it is now the economy and unemployment which has become the main issue. | The BBC's Nick Davis in Kingston says while violent crime used to dominate election campaigns, it is now the economy and unemployment which has become the main issue. |
| In recent weeks, the two main parties have been campaigning hard to win over undecided voters. | |
| Mr Holness, 39, stressed the JLP's record in reviving an economy which he said was badly managed during the PNP's long years in office. | |
| However the PNP said the JLP itself was guilty of economic mismanagement and has allowed the country's debt to balloon. | |