Andrew Holness has been declared winner of the Jamaica Labour Party leadership election.

Holness, 41, trounced the 61-year-old Audley Shaw polling 2,704 votes to the 2,012 received by Shaw.

"This is a great day for democracy in the Jamaica Labour Party, I want to congratulate the leader of the Jamaica Labour Party Mr Andrew Holness," said Shaw.

"We have been re-energized and we are showing to all of Jamaica that we are a democratic Jamaica Labour Party," the outgoing deputy leader said.

To Holness, Shaw said: "I am willing and ready to join with you, to build back the Jamaica Labour Party, to bring back love to the Jamaica Labour Party."

Holness meanwhile, was overwhelmed with the outcome: "Today is a great day for the Jamaica Labour Party... The Jamaica Labour Party has won," said the incumbent.

"Unity starts with the leader and this leader commits to you that I will do everything within my power to unite the party."

FACT FILE - Andrew Holness

Born: July 22, 1972

Age: 41 years

•Became Member of Parliament at the age of 25, when he copped the Central St. Andrew seat in 1997.

•Served as Opposition spokesman on land and development from 1999-2002.

• Became Shadow Education Minister in 2005.

• Became Education Minister when the Jamaica Labour Party won the 2007 general election.

• Sworn in as Jamaica’s youngest Prime Minister on October 23, 2011 at age 39.

• Defeated at the polls in December 2011.

WATCH: Andrew keeps the crown


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