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In Jamaica, election season doesn't just mean promises - it means perks.

And across Kingston, residents say they're already looking forward to the usual: speeches, dubplates, and the $5,000 handouts.

"Election time a my favourite time," a young vendor in Cross Roads, Kingston, told THE STAR."Di $5,000 dem give we a di best ting. Sometimes mi end up get double dat if mi play mi cards right. Even if mi nah vote, mi still turn up. A vibes and survival." He said the money usually goes towards his light bills, especially during tight weeks.

"Every mickle make a muckle. Mi cya tell no lie, dat likkle money help. Cost a living high and every time election come up a dem time deh mi always bruck," he said.

Offering money or gifts in exchange for votes is illegal under Jamaica's Representation of the People Act. Still, it remains a part of the country's political culture. A 2021 survey conducted by the Caribbean Policy Research Institute found that 28 per cent of respondents said they had been offered money or favours for their vote, a practice that continues to shape public expectation. But not everyone is swayed by money.

"Mi nuh care 'bout nuh money right now," said Tevin, a 30-year-old from Kingston who has been unemployed for more than two years.

"Mi vote if mi see dem serious 'bout work. Mi tired fi hustle every day an' still cya get ahead," he said. Tevin said he once attended a government job fair, and admitted that it was a "really good experience".

"But if mi did fi wait pan a call back fi live, mi dead long time," he said.

That frustration reflects a growing class of Jamaicans who say they've had enough of speeches and handouts and are looking for long-term solutions instead of temporary giveaways. Still, others say their minds are already made up.

"Yuh see the opportunity weh dah government yah a gi people, nuh other government nuh give it yet," said Carlton, 62, a vendor in downtown Kingston. "Mi nah talk after nuh biased perspective. Couple years a back yuh find more young people weh nuh have nuh job, now yah find job fair, training, free house, pathology lab, bad man fraid a police; a whole heap a things this government do."

Even the sceptics admit there's something electric about campaign season, including the rallies, the rhythm, and of course, the music.

"Mi cya wait fi hear which song dem a come wid dis year," said the same vendor from Cross Roads. "Any song dem a drop, mi ready. Dem always catchy. Mi remember when 'Labour Party marching on' hit. Dat one still shell road today!"

Others are interested in the campaigning for the memorabilia, particularly the green and orange shirts which are the main colours of the Jamaica Labour Party and the People'e National Party respectively.

As the political temperature rises, many Jamaicans say they're watching closely to see how the parties plan to tackle the 'real' issues - namely crime, education, job creation, rising prices, and poor infrastructure. The promises may change. The party colours may clash. But for most people, the outcome they want is simple: a life that feels better after election day.

"Mi nah put mi hopes too high though," said Tevin. "But mi still a go watch and see if this time... different."