150 candidates nominated for Jamaica election on Dec. 29

As nominations closed on Monday for Jamaica's general election on December 29, political parties reported that a total of 150 candidates have been nominated, with the two major parties putting up a candidate for each of the 63 seats in Parliament.

THE Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) will make a formal announcement Tuesday on the actual count. 

Director of Elections Orette Fisher told local media the preliminary count is based on nomination forms filed in all the constituencies. He explained that officials still have to go through the documents. "Until we check it, I don't want to consider it final," he emphasised.

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is seeking re-election under its new leader, Andrew Holness, who took over the party from Bruce Golding in October. Golding quit under pressure from his party and Holness, 39, was handpicked for the job.

The opposition PNM is hoping to return to office. It's campaign is based on the 

premise that trhe JLP had failed to correct many of the ills facing jamaica today.

Polls indicate a close race that is a statistical dead heat.

There are other parties and independents in the race as well. The Marcus Garvey People's Political Party is fielding 10 candidates and seven candidates are running for the National Democratic Movement. There are also six independents.