Elections must be held by December 2012, but Holness says the island's international partners must know before the end of the year if voters will give him a mandate to govern Jamaica for the next five years.
 

The 39-year-old Holness was sworn in as prime minister on Oct. 23, ushering in a government that he said would root out corruption, reduce debt and bureaucracy and attract foreign investment to fight poverty.
 

He called general elections in a speech at a packed rally held Sunday night in the central town of Mandeville.
 

Cheering, horn-honking caravans of Labor supporters celebrated in the streets, waving banners and wearing the party's colour of green.