Jamaicans yesterday took to the polls and decided that it was time for a change of government in the form of Andrew Holness and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

Preliminary results show that the JLP, led by its Leader, Mr. Andrew Holness, has won 33 seats, while the People’s National Party (PNP), led by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, won 30 seats. In the 2011 general elections, the JLP won 21 seats, while the PNP won 42 seats.

In his victory speech at the JLP’s headquarters on Belmont Road, Holness thanked the people of Jamaica for the victory.

“It has been a long and arduous journey. We have carried a message of hope, that Jamaica can be a better place and the people have accepted the message,” he said.

Holness said this is not the end of a journey, and gave a commitment that the Government will not work as usual.

“We are going to change the way Government works. We have been given stewardship of the country and we stand to be accountable. We will keep the commitments we have made to the people,” he said.

He says critical to success was ten-point plan and appeal to young and undecided voters.

Holness has promised that during his time as Prime Minister, he intends to address issues relating to water, housing, education and health.

Meanwhile, in conceding victory, Simpson Miller called for increased unity and “uniting for a cause”.

She also informed comrades who gathered at the PNP headquarters that during the recount, there needs to be ” ‘strong persons at constituencies to recount ballots..’ as the party can “leave nothing to chance”.

The JLP win has been welcomed by members of social media deemed the “articulate minority” who say it shows that “the voice of the youth matter” and they are “not just talk”.