All Systems Go for September 3, 2025 Elections

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Click Here To Access List of Candidates and Their Constituencies

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This Excel list is in a database format. You can select specific data by using the dropdown links next to the field names.

Send me reports by video, audio, still picture, and message, reporting election day activities as they happen. Be a reporter for the day. WhatsApp these to Vernon Derby in confidence at (876) 816-5261.

If you are a candidate, click here and complete the form.  Information will be used to contact you for news and information for my blog. Thanks.

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Press Release From The EOJ, September 2, 2025

KINGSTON, Jamaica; The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) is all set for the General Election and Local Government By-elections on Wednesday, September 3. Voting will take place in 7,294 polling stations at 2,153 locations across the island. The polls open at 7 a.m. and will close at 5 p.m. after which, the preliminary counting of ballots will take place inside the polling stations.

“We have completed the printing of ballots and voters’ lists and distributed ballot boxes and supplies. Returning Officers commenced the meeting with their teams on Sunday, with the final set of briefings scheduled for today” said Glasspole Brown, Director of Elections.

There are 190 candidates in total, with 184 contesting the General Election and six contesting the by-elections. Four (4) registered political parties are contesting the elections, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Jamaica Progressive Party (JPP), People’s National Party (PNP) and the United Independents’ Congress (UIC).

The election will be observed by local observer group Citizens Action for Free & Fair Elections (CAFFE) and international missions from the Organization of American States (OAS), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and smaller delegations including the British High Commission, the United States Embassy and the European Union.

The election will be monitored by the Election Centre, which is a hub for receiving and validating reports on incidents on the ground and providing resolutions, as well as issuing reports to the media where necessary. The Constituted Authority, which comes into effect whenever an election notice is issued and has the ability to halt or void elections where deemed necessary, will oversee the election. 

Electors who are still unclear where to vote, may check the Electoral Commission of Jamaica’s website at www.ecj.com.jm and click on “Check my status” on the homepage to find out at which polling station they are to cast their ballot. They may also contact their constituency office or the EOJ toll-free helpline at 888-991-VOTE (8683) or (876) 922-0425-9.

Editor's Note

Remember to add your comment at the end of the blog.

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The Discussion About Politics and Citizenship Is Not Going Away

I have been called an activist and an apologist. Some have said that I have no sense. No problem, mon. I am the one who decided to go out there to assist others and to be a consumer advocate. I am the one who decided to get into broadcasting and also to be a blogger. My involvement exposes me to all types of weather, but I continue to weather the storm.

On the flip side, I do appreciate the love that many people have shown me. I cannot afford to hate any group of people because people in the church, political parties, and other organizations have been good to me, especially in these difficult times.

One of the reasons for my attacks in recent times is because of the points I made about being a citizen of Jamaica in one of my blogs. Recently, I had a group of people take me on in the supermarket. They heard me on my cellular phone discussing the citizen matter highlighted in the Golding vs Holness debate. While I was in the line at the supermarket, a young man with an English accent introduced himself to me and stated that he was trained in the UK as a lawyer and specializes in constitutional law. My response to him was that I am Vernon Derby.

It is interesting to note that at the end of the conversation, he agreed with me that one can be born in a country and not be a citizen of that country. His father was born in Jamaica and was now living in the United Kingdom. He discovered late in the day that his father was not a citizen, although he was born in Jamaica. His father did not have a birth certificate.

If you were born in Jamaica, you should get one of the new birth certificates produced by their Registrar General Department (RGD) computerized system. The registration paper or the white paper is not a birth certificate; it is merely a registration of your birth.

Note also that if you were born in Jamaica and you return to the island using a foreign passport, then you should be given a limited time to stay on the island, unless you ask for an extension.

My position on this matter is that no member of the Houses of Parliament, permanent secretaries, Cabinet Secretary, or other such persons holding similar positions should be citizens of another country.

Please do not call and cuss me out or abuse me in public when you read this blog. Double-check if the information here is correct. What is important is to get the correct information, not to defend a political party or a person.

More Reading

• Born Ya No Mean Say Yu A Jumaican.

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On Wednesday, September 3, 2023, please keep Bark Di Trute informed about election day events and activities. Send your pictures, voice messages, videos, and stories by WhatsApp at (876) 816-5261.

Share this blog as much as possible and encourage others to keep in touch.

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What Some Bark Di Trute Supporters Predict For General Elections 2025

 

Number of Seats For Each Party Predicted By Seven Persons

Comments Made

Please add your comments.

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Vernon Derby Talks With Metry Seaga, PSOJ Head About The Political Parties'' Manifestos

Listen to this fascinating conversation between Vernon Derby and Mr. Metry Seaga, the president of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica. Click on the icon below.

Click to watch the video.

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The Jamaican General Elections are three days away. The question is, which party will win? I am giving my supporters a chance to have fun and say which party will win and how many seats each party will win. Have fun and participate. If I get support, I might have some prizes to give away.

Click the icon below to get to the questionnaire.

Click here for the questionnaire.

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Click here and you could win two tickets.

Click the icon below and join a group of people who want to learn more about the prostate.

Click here to join a WhatsApp broadcast group.

Click here to see what's happening.

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Subscribe Now!

• Subscribe to my YouTube Channel.
• Subscribe to my Emergency News Advice Service.
• Make a financial donation now.

Remember that Bark Di Trute could fail to bark one day without your support. Send your ideas, stories, and news by WhatsApp at (876) 816-5261.

You can view the blog on your computer at https://vderby.blogspot.com, and you will be able to see the various links. For example, there is a link that takes you to the calendar so you can see what is happening on the weekend. You can even search the site for articles.

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The BITU Issues Statement on JLP's Proposal To Increase Minimum Way to JAD32,000

Statement From The Bustamantee Industrial Trade Union, September 01, 2025:

Kavan Gayle, President of the BITU

The Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU), on behalf of the working people of Jamaica, welcomes and commends the announcement by Prime Minister the Most Honourable Andrew Holness that, if returned to office for a third term, his government will double the national minimum wage from $16,000 to $32,000 on a phased basis.

“This is a bold and historic commitment. For decades, the call for wages that allow workers not just to survive, but to live with dignity, has been at the centre of the trade union movement. By moving to establish a liveable wage system, the Prime Minister has given clear recognition to the fundamental truth that the labour of our people is the backbone of national development”.

According to the BITU President a livable wage system means more than a figure on a pay-slip. It means that workers can provide proper meals for their families, send their children to school, access health care, and participate in community and national life without being trapped in the cycle of poverty. It is about restoring dignity to work, narrowing inequality, and ensuring that those who carry the heaviest loads in our economy are not left behind.

“This is the first administration in Jamaica’s history to commit to such a system. The BITU applauds this step and sees it as a watershed moment in advancing fairness and justice in the world of work. We stand ready to engage constructively in the design and implementation of the phased increases and the broader framework that will give real meaning to the promise of a livable wage”.

On behalf of the working class, the BITU calls on all stakeholders—employers, policymakers, and civil society—to support this initiative, as it is not only about wages, but about the social and economic transformation of Jamaica. 

Editor's Note

Jamaica is fast reaching a state where there will be no such thing as a minimum wage. If we upgrade the skills of our people, grow the economy, and concentrate on giving high-quality service and our technical skills to the world, then unemployment will continue to fall, and there will be no need for cheap labour.

We cannot build a great country by using cheap labour. We must be lawyers, doctors, high-tech farmers, engineers, aircraft technicians, computer experts, and the list goes on. Cheap labour will have to be a thing of the past. Having people working as contract workers for decades without benefits has to stop. Let's build our economy and say "Down with cheap labour." Up with productivity, excellent customer service, and efficiency.

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The Jamaican General Elections are three days away. The question is, which party will win? I am giving my supporters a chance to have fun and say which party will win and how many seats each party will win. Have fun and participate. If I get support, I might have some prizes to give away.

Click the icon below to get to the questionnaire.

Click here for the questionnaire.

_________________

Click here and you could win two tickets.

Click the icon below and join a group of people who want to learn more about the prostate.

Click here to join a WhatsApp broadcast group.

Click here to see what's happening.

_________________

Subscribe Now!

• Subscribe to my YouTube Channel.
• Subscribe to my Emergency News Advice Service.
• Make a financial donation now.

Remember that Bark Di Trute could fail to bark one day without your support. Send your ideas, stories, and news by WhatsApp at (876) 816-5261.

You can view the blog on your computer at https://vderby.blogspot.com, and you will be able to see the various links. For example, there is a link that takes you to the calendar so you can see what is happening on the weekend. You can even search the site for articles.

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JUTC Eases Back-to-School Costs with Free Rides for Students from September to October

Press Release From The JUTC, September 1, 2025 

Owen Ellington

 

Spanish Town, St. Catherine — The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) is pleased to announce that all students will be able to ride free of cost on JUTC buses from September through October 2025. Students are required to present a valid school identification card or be dressed in their school uniform to benefit from this initiative. 

This special provision forms part of the Company’s ongoing efforts to ease the financial burden on parents and guardians at the start of the new academic year, while also reinforcing JUTC’s commitment to education and national development. 

“The JUTC is not just in the business of transportation; we are in the business of nation building. By supporting our students, we are making a direct investment in Jamaica’s future. Providing free rides during this critical back-to-school period reduces stress on families and ensures that every child has access to safe, reliable, and comfortable transportation to and from school,” said Owen Ellington, Managing Director of JUTC. 

The initiative is expected to positively impact thousands of students across the Kingston Metropolitan Transport Region (KMTR) and beyond, encouraging punctuality, reducing absenteeism, and contributing to a smoother school term. The JUTC remains dedicated to serving the Jamaican public with affordable and dependable transportation solutions. By placing commuters at the heart of its operations, the Company continues to create meaningful initiatives that strengthen communities and support the nation’s growth. 

________________________

The Jamaican General Elections are three days away. The question is, which party will win? I am giving my supporters a chance to have fun and say which party will win and how many seats each party will win. Have fun and participate. If I get support, I might have some prizes to give away.

Click the icon below to get to the questionnaire.

Click here for the questionnaire.

_________________

Click here and you could win two tickets.

Click the icon below and join a group of people who want to learn more about the prostate.

Click here to join a WhatsApp broadcast group.

Click here to see what's happening.

_________________

Subscribe Now!

• Subscribe to my YouTube Channel.
• Subscribe to my Emergency News Advice Service.
• Make a financial donation now.

Remember that Bark Di Trute could fail to bark one day without your support. Send your ideas, stories, and news by WhatsApp at (876) 816-5261.

You can view the blog on your computer at https://vderby.blogspot.com, and you will be able to see the various links. For example, there is a link that takes you to the calendar so you can see what is happening on the weekend. You can even search the site for articles.

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