Akufo-Addo congratulates new Jamaican Prime Minister
The 2016 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, (NPP), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has congratulated the newly elected Jamaican Prime Minister, Mr Andrew Holness.
In a statement, he also congratulated the outgoing Prime Minister, Ms Portia Simpson-Miller, Jamaica’s first female Prime Minister, on graciously conceding defeat in her unsuccessful bid for a second term in office.
According to Nana Akufo-Addo, “winning the election on a programme of tax cuts for businesses, reviving an economy saddled with a debt-to-GDP ratio of some 125 per cent, and creating jobs for the youth, it is my hope and expectation that the Prime Minister-elect’s tenure in office will be marked by the delivery of progress and prosperity to the Jamaican people”.
He stated that “this is to congratulate Hon. Andrew Holness, leader of Jamaica’s opposition centre-right political party, the Jamaican Labour Party, on his election as the new Prime Minister of Jamaica, following recent general election in the Caribbean island nation”.
“Warm congratulations once again to Hon. Andrew Holness, and best wishes for his success as he prepares to take up the responsibilities and challenges of the high office of Prime Minister of Jamaica,” Nana Akufo-Addo concluded.
The opposition Jamaica Labour Party won the general election after a campaign dominated by economic issues.
The party's leader, Mr Holness, 43, vowed to create jobs, grow the economy and improve education and health care.
Labour won 33 of the country's 63 seats in a vote with a 47 per cent turnout, beating the People's National Party of Prime Minister Simpson Miller.
Jamaica is heavily indebted, but austerity measures introduced by Ms Simpson Miller have led to growth.
"We don't take it that we have won a prize. The cost of victory is to keep the commitments we have made," Mr Holness told supporters.
During the campaign, Mr Holness said he wanted to turn Jamaica into "the Silicon Valley of the Caribbean".
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