Thu | Jan 2, 2025

Lessons for JLP and PNP can learn from US elections

Published:Saturday | December 21, 2024 | 12:06 AM

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party should learn from the defeat of Kamala Harris, the Democratic party and the establishment in the recent US presidential election. Donald Trump’s victory is good news for the Jamaica and the JLP if you believe the Trump administration will fix the US economy by bringing down inflation.

Lessons for the JLP

1.Money alone can’t win election, you need a good message. Kamala Harris and the Democrats outspent Donald Trump and the Republicans, yet still they lost the presidency, Senate, house and popular vote .

2. Andrew Holness and the JLP need to understand the power of being on podcasts . The People’s National Party currently is leading the Jamaica Labour Party over YouTube and TikTok. They need to take those platforms especially YouTube more seriously. Holness need to be over The Fix , Teach Dem, Let’s Be Honest and JA Radio Podcasts. They also need to support their vloggers on YouTube more. Facebook, Twitter and Instagram alone can’t win the 2025 general election.

3. High cost of living, focusing on only the macro economy and avoiding the micro economy. The Democrats placed all issues over voters pocket. They even believed that abortion was a bigger issue for them than the economy.

4. The Jamaica Labour Party need to engage their base again because the 2025 general election will be a battle on who can motivate their base. Both parties base is roughly 430,000 voters. Any party to earn over that base point likely have a chance to win or be victorious.

5 The JLP not only need to have a good message they need to explain to the nation that the certain things that impact the economy are international and they are the best party to fix the issues than the PNP.

Lessons for the PNP

1. Trying to demonise and to focus on just the leader of a party sometimes will backfire. Even if some Labourites are not happy they will support their leader when he’s under attack. The PNP never learn from the 2016 general election when they only focused on Andrew Holness’ mansion.

2. Celebrities can’t win elections - Donald Trump defeated Kamala Harris with little support from celebrities. Voters respect their celebrities, but don’t take them seriously when it comes to election .

TEDDYLEE GRAY

Ocho Rios, St Ann

teddylee.gray@gmail.com