The emphatic drubbing of Jamaica’s governing party in fiercely contested national elections even astonished the triumphant opposition side, the campaign manager for the winning faction said.

Jamaica’s opposition capitalised on discontent over the economy to return to power, as voters gave the country’s first female leader a second chance to govern the island.

Jamaica's Electoral Commission today postponed the nation's August 27 general elections until an assessment of damage from Hurricane Dean is completed.

Jamaicans headed inland and tourists fled the country as the powerful Hurricane Dean appeared poised to make a direct hit on the island after a deadly and destructive march across the eastern Caribbean.

Alarmed tourists jammed Caribbean airports for flights out of Hurricane Dean’s path as the storm threatened to engulf Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.