Phillips, who has indicated that he would step away from active politics if the party fails to win the elections,  polled 4,963 votes to 3,887 for Jodian Myrie, but the JLP has already been declared the victors in seven of the 10 seats declared to date, according to the preliminary results.

The PNP is reported to be leading in 14 constituencies, and the political observers say the end results could be reminiscent of the 1980 elections when the JLP won by a 51 to 9 margin.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is holding his own in the St. Andrew West Central seat where he faces a challenge from Patrick Roberts.

In the last general election, the JLP had won by a slender one seat majority but increased that to three after it won two by-elections during the four and ahalf year term of the Holness administration.