Jamaica Labour Party

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Jamaica

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The Jamaica Labour Party is a political party in Jamaica and one of the main two political parties in Jamaica. Out of the two major parties, it is considered more conservative than its main rival, the People's National Party. At the last elections, 16 October 2002, the party won 47.2 % of popular votes and 26 out of 60 seats. It is the main opposition party. It was led by Edward Seaga from 1974 to 2004. In that year, Seaga stepped down from leadership and was replaced by Bruce Golding. It currently holds 26 of the 60 seats in the Jamaica House of Representatives.

The party was founded in 1943 by Alexander Bustamante as the political wing of the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union. It ruled from independence in 1962 to 1972, and from 1980 to 1989. Bustamante led the party from its founding until 1964, when he retired from active participation in politics. However, he did not relinquish the title of party leader for several years, until the party, following its defeat in the 1972 elections, gave him the honorific title of "The Chief". In the interim the party was led by Donald Sangster (until 1967) and Hugh Shearer (until 1974), with the title of "First Deputy Leader".

The party uses the Liberty Bell and the colour green as electoral symbols.

[edit] List of Party Leaders

    • Donald Sangster and Hugh Shearer were not actually leaders of the JLP, but were more de factos during the illness of Bustamante.

[edit] See also

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