Jamaica's prime minister has announced that he is stepping down in the coming weeks to make way for a new leader from within the ruling Jamaica Labor Party .

Bruce Golding has been in office since 2007.

Prime Minister Golding said Sunday the last four years have “taken a toll.” He said now is an “appropriate” time to “make way for new leadership.”

JLP officials say Mr. Golding will resign as soon as a new ruling leader is chosen.

Reuters news agency says the transition is scheduled to take place in November at JLP's annual conference.

The opposition People's National Party has called for general elections as soon as possible to resolve what it calls the “crisis” of governance in Jamaica.