KINGSTON (Reuters) – Jamaican voters faced stringent hygiene protocols as they cast their ballots on Thursday amid a resurgence of coronavirus infections in a general election that the ruling party looks set to win thanks to its stewardship of the economy.
Polls show Prime Minister Andrew Holness’s center-right Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) 12 to 19 percentage points ahead of the center-left People’s National Party (PNP).
Face mask-clad supporters of each party, wearing trademark green or orange, dotted the streets of Kingston. But the mood was far from festive.
When Holness called the elections on Aug. 11, authorities appeared to have successfully contained the coronavirus outbreak in the Caribbean island nation of some 3 million.
Cases have more than doubled since, after borders were re-opened and lockdown restrictions eased, to 2,683 as of Sept. 1, and 24 deaths.
Polling stations were manned with police officers, volunteers and electoral workers, who took temperatures and directed people to sanitization stations.
For the most part, voters wore masks or face shields and appeared to adhere to social distancing, although lines were tightly packed at some polling stations.
Voters who are confirmed COVID-positive were due to cast their ballot between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.
“My personal observation is that it is very safe, and so I encourage everyone who has not yet done so, come on out and vote for the Stronger Team, the JLP, as we look to build back stronger!” Holness said in a post on social media after voting at mid-day in Kingston.
While some voters were nervous and questioned the decision to hold the election, others were sanguine.
