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Bruce swearing in…
In just under an hour Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Bruce Golding will be inaugurated as Jamaica’s eighth Prime Minister.

Mr. Golding will be sworn in at King’s House by Governor General Professor Kenneth Hall during a ceremony expected to be attended by several local and foreign dignitaries.

When Orrett Bruce Golding takes the Oath of the Office of Prime Minister this afternoon, he will be the first in recent years to have done so without being conferred with the second highest national honour — the Order of the Nation.

During the campaign leading up to the September 3 election, Mr. Golding said he had no intentions of inheriting the title of Most Honourable that comes with the Order of the Nation.

Yesterday, the chairman of the organising committee for the swearing in ceremony Dr. Oswald Harding made it clear that Mr. Golding would be sticking to his word.

Several dignitaries are expected to be among the 5,000 persons expected to attend today’s swearing in ceremony for Jamaica’s eighth Prime Minister.

They include the Prime Minister of Barbados Owen Arthur, the Secretary General of CARICOM, Dr. Edwin Carrington, the Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Michael Missick, the vice president of the council of the state of Cuba, Estaban Lazo Hernandez and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Trinidad and Tobago Arnold Piggott.

Former Governor General Howard Cooke, former Prime Ministers Edward Seaga and PJ Patterson and members of the diplomatic corps are also expected to attend.

Power 106 FM will provide live coverage of the swearing in ceremony starting at 4pm.

EOJ on ballot boxes find
The count of two ballot boxes from South East St Mary which were discovered yesterday is to take place today at the Port Maria courthouse in St Mary.

The ballots are those of election day workers who voted in the constituency.

Director of Elections Danville Walker confirmed that an error resulted in the boxes being left behind following the initial count.

Mr. Walker is confident that the outcome of the count will not affect the current seat standing of 33 for the JLP and 27 for the People’s National Party (PNP).

The count is to be observed by Harold Brady of the JLP and Abe Dabdoub and Glen Cruikshank of the PNP.

When the final count of ballots ended last Thursday, the JLP’s Tarn Peralto was declared the winner over the PNP’s Harry Douglas in the constituency.

Mr. Peralto polled 6,969 votes to Mr. Douglas’ 6,935 to win the seat by 34 votes.

The preliminary count on Election Day in South East St. Mary had Mr. Peralto trailing Mr. Douglas by 46 votes.

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Another PNP Vote Casualty
The Peopls’s National Party (PNP) have lost their candidate D.K Duncan’s seat of East Hanover to the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Barrington Gray by nine votes, announced Director of Elections Danville Walker.

The preliminary vote count had showed that Mr. Duncan won the seat by 57 votes.

At the same time the PNP’s Derrick Kellier has regained the South St. James seat.

On Monday night the JLP’s Noel Donaldson was declared the winning candidate. However, following the recount, which was completed this morning, the Director of Elections said Mr. Kellier duly won the election by more than 200 votes.

Mr. Kellier had insisted that he was victorious at the polls after it was announced that Mr. Donaldson defeated him.

In the meantime Mr. Walker says the final count has not resulted in a change in the preliminary results for the contentious Western Hanover seat. This means that the PNP’s Ian Hayles will be appointed as the new Member of Parliament.

The Director of Elections also said that a recount is now underway for the Central Manchester seat.

On Monday night, the PNP’s Peter Bunting was declared the winner over the JLP’s Sally Porteous by more than 207 votes.

And yesterday the JLP’s Tarn Peralto was declared the winner of the South East St. Mary seat over the PNP’s Harry Douglas. Mr. Peralto won the seat by 34 votes.

The unofficial count on election day had Mr. Peralto trailing Mr. Douglas by 46 votes.

The official party seat standings remains at 33 for the JLP and 27 for the PNP.

The remaining results of the final count are to made known later today.

GG Awaits Official Declaration of MPs
Governor General Professor Kenneth Hall is awaiting the official declaration of the Members of Parliament to appoint the new prime minister.

Professor Hall is expected to receive the official declaration in the form of a gazette. Attorney Bert Samuels said the magisterial recounts which will likely be sought by the PNP should not affect the appointment of the Prime Minister.

The new Prime Minister is then expected to advise the Governor General of the members of the new Cabinet. In the meantime Mr. Samuels is of the view that the closeness of the election results should benefit the Jamaican people when issues come up for debate in Parliament.

MPs Must Disclose Government Contracts
Contractor General Greg Christie is highlighting the need for Parliamentary candidates to disclose government contracts held by them.

Mr. Christie said much attention has been paid to the section of the constitution regarding the eligibility of candidates who have sworn allegiance to a foreign power.

But he says focus should also be placed on Section 40 subsection 2 (c) of the Constitution.

This section states that persons seeking to be elected to the House of Representatives or appointed to the Senate must disclose whether they are party to a Government contract at least a month before the election.

Mr. Christie also stated that such persons can be barred from taking their seats in parliament if they failed to make such a disclosure.

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EOJ final count
The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) says final counting of ballots cast in the general election will not be completed before tomorrow.

Recounting of ballots for five marginal constituencies is being closely watched.

The constituencies are East and West Hanover, South St. James, Central Manchester and South East St. Mary.

Director of Elections Danville Walker says about 50 per cent of the ballots for the five seats have already been counted.

The EOJ had earlier reported that the South St. James seat has been lost by the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Derrick Kellier to the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Noel Donaldson.

The JLP has claimed that the East Hanover seat that was declared for the PNP’s D.K. Duncan was won by Barrington Gray.

And the Party has also claimed that its candidate Donovan Hamilton has won the West Hanover seat that was announced for the PNP’s Ian Hayles.

However the EOJ has rejected the claims saying that the final count should be known tomorrow.

Increase constituencies - Prof. Miller
Chairman of the Electoral Commission, Professor Errol Miller wants the new parliament when sworn-in to pass legislation to increase the number of constituencies to an odd number between 60 and 65.

He says the preliminary results of the just-concluded election suggested that a 30/30 result was possible.

During the last parliament, a bill with provisions to increase in the number of constituencies, was not debated after being tabled for more than six months.

No garrison constituency
Meanwhile, Professor Miller is urging journalists and commentators not to label communities as garrison constituencies.

He argued that one standard was applied in all 60 constituencies and everyone had to comply.

He said no constituency recorded a voter turnout that was close to 100 per cent.

Professor Miller said 808, 240 persons voted. This represented 60.4 per cent of the little more than the 1.3 million persons that were eligible to vote.

Of this number the JLP polled just over 405,000 while the PNP received just over 402,000.

The National Democratic Movement (NDM) received 540 while the other groups polled a total of 110 votes.

Professor Miller said 56 per cent of the electorate had voted by 1 p.m.

JTA on Golding
The Jamaica Teachers’ Association (JTA) says it will be closely monitoring the new government to ensure that it fulfills its promises with regard to education.

JTA President Ena Barclay says some schools will not be ready for the new school year, which starts on Monday because of the damage caused by Hurricane Dean.

She says the schools include the Donald Quarrie High School in Kingston.

PM designate on education
Prime Minister designate, Bruce Golding says high school principals should admit all students who are yet to pay their tuition fees.

He also says parents who have already paid school fees will be refunded once the schools can prove that they received the money.

In addition Mr. Golding says a JLP government will move quickly to pay over to all schools the equivalent amounts they would have collected in fees.

He says he will be issuing the appropriate instructions to the Finance and Education Ministries once he takes office.

In the run-up to the general election the JLP had promised free secondary education for all students.

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JLP claiming 34 seats
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is this afternoon claiming that its seat count has been pushed to 34 following yesterday’s general election.

But the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) is rejecting those reports.

The EOJ says it expects to complete the recounting of the ballots by Thursday night.

Director of Elections Danville Walker says the South St. James seat has been lost by the PNP’s Derrick Kellier to the JLP’s Noel Donaldson.

The JLP is now also claiming that its candidate Donovan Hamilton has won the West Hanover seat that was announced for the PNP’s Ian Hayels.

The other marginal constituencies being recounted are: East and West Hanover, Central Manchester and South East St. Mary.

The ballots for the 55 other constituencies are being recounted in the respective centres across the island.

An EOJ official told The Gleaner/Power 106 News that the decision was made to have the re-count of the marginal constituencies in Kingston because of the potential for violence.

The preliminary count indicates that in West Hanover, the PNP’s Ian Hayles polled 7,116 votes to the 7,o69 by the JLP’s Donovan Hamilton.

In East Hanover, the PNP’s D.K. Duncan received 6,053 votes to the 5,996 polled for the JLP’s Barrington Grey. The JLP is claiming to have won this seat.

In Central Manchester, the PNP’s Peter Bunting edged out the JLP’s Sally Porteous by polling 8,460 to her 8,253.

And in South East St. Mary, the PNP’s Harry Douglas polled 6,960 votes to the 6,914 received by Tarn Peralto of the JLP.

The Labourites also say their candidate Barrington Grey won the Eastern Hanover seat that was declared for D.K Duncan last night.

CARICOM Observers too
CACRICOM election observers have reported that yesterday’s General Election was transparent and peaceful.

Head of the eight-member observer team Gerald Watt said the the management of the polling stations was generally efficient. But he says the administrative competence of some Presiding Officers was below the acceptable level.

Police on alert
The Police High Command says it has deployed more security personnel in communities affected by violence.

Police reported several crimes across the Corporate Area following the announcement of the preliminary results of the national polls yesterday.

They have also confirmed that two soldiers were shot and injured last night in Mountain View, St. Andrew and Arnold Road, Kingston.

A house was reportedly firebombed and gunshots fired at civilians and police personnel in the community of Woodford Park in South East St. Andrew.

There were also reports of shots being fired in downtown Kingston, Central Kingston, Windward Road, South Camp Road and Spanish Town Road.

Police have also asked the Jamaica Defense Force (JDF) to help to quell the violence.

C0mmissioner appeals to JLP/PNP
Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas says he has consulted with leadership figures in both political parties who have agreed to appeal to their supporters to maintain law and order.

The Police High Command is asking political supporters to stay off the streets and report any unlawful activity.

Curfew to be lifted
A curfew that was imposed in the troubled Mountain View Avenue community of South East St. Andrew is to be lifted with by 6 p.m.

The boundaries of the curfew run east from Olivia Road to 100 Lane and West on Deanery Road between Deanery Avenue and Langston Road.

The northern boundary runs along Deanery Avenue and 100 Lane to the foot of Warika Hills.

While they southern boundary takes in, Langston Road, Hildene Avenue and Olivia Road.

That curfew followed the killing of three persons on Deanery Avenue on Friday night.

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JLP gain extra seat
In the meantime the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) is reporting that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has now won 32 of the 60 seats to the 28 won by the People’s National Party (PNP).

Director of Elections Danville Walker says the PNP’s South St. James Seat has been lost by Derrick Kellier to the JLP’s Noel Donaldson.

Recount latest
The EOJ is transporting the ballots from five marginal constituencies to be counted in Kingston.

The ballots are coming from the constituencies of East and West Hanover, St. James South, Manchester Central and South East St. Mary.

In the preliminary count indicates that in Hanover Western, the PNP’s Ian Halyes polled 7 thousand 116 votes to the 7 thousand and 69 by the JLP’s Donovan Hamilton.

In Hanover Eastern, the PNP’s D.K. Duncan received 6,053 votes to the 5,996 polled for the JLP’s Barrington Grey.

Meanwhile in West St. James the PNP’s Derrick Kellier received 6,002 votes to the 5, 816 received by the JLP’s Noel Donaldson.

In Central Manchester, the PNP’s Peter Bunting edged out the JLP’s Sally Porteous by polling 8,460 to her 8,253.

In South East St. Mary, the PNP’s Harry Douglas polled 6,960 votes to the 6,914 received by Tarn Peralto of the JLP.

The JLP’s Member of the Electoral Commission, Tom Tavares Finson says the recounting of the ballots of the five seats will begin shortly.

JCC on new government
The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC) wants the new government to allow the private sector to play a greater role in governance.

JCC President Mark Myers says the Chamber is expecting that within the first one hundred days of its administration the new government will involve his organisation.

The Chamber has for sometime been advocating for its members as well as members of civic society groups to be involved in a social partnership with the government.

In the meantime Mr. Myers says he expects that the composition of the new government will facilitate a higher level of consultation.

JFJ on new government
In the meantime Executive Director of  Human Rights Group Jamaicans For Justice (JFJ) Dr. Carolyn Gomes says the new JLP government has a responsibility to chart the way towards achieving a unified country.
She has also expressed disappointment in the manner in which PNP President Portia Simpson-Miller refused to concede defeat last night, which she is still yet to do.

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New government
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has committed to unifying the country when it takes office.

The preliminary count following yesterday’s election shows the JLP with 31 seats and the People’s National Party (PNP) with 29.

JLP Leader Bruce Golding told party supporters last night that yesterday’s victory for his party was also a victory for Jamaica.

Mr. Golding says the final tally of seats will be declared after today’s recount.

He also said the JLP lost three seats by less than 100 votes in the very close election. Mr. Golding said unifying the country could eliminate political violence.

He also said there are many challenges, which the Government must confront once it takes office.

Portia yet to concede
PNP President and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller has refused to concede defeat to the JLP following yesterday’s closely contested general election in which 31 seats were declared for the JLP and 29 for the PNP.

Addressing party supporters at the PNP’s Old Hope Road headquarters last night Mrs. Simpson Miller declared that the party would await a recount scheduled for today.

She said there were a number of incidents that happened at some constituencies and also claimed that some persons were denied their right to vote.

The PNP President also said she had evidence of persons campaigning in breach of electoral regulations and buying votes.

She further appealed to party stalwarts to remain peaceful.

Danville Walker of the EOJ on election result
Meanwhile Director of Elections Danville Walker has cautioned the leaders of both political parties to show responsible leadership while a recount of the ballots is carried out.

Mr. Walker says it could take some time before a new leader is sworn in given the closeness of the results.

The head of the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) the process of recounting could take two days, with the possibility of some magisterial recounts. Meanwhile he urged persons to be patient and remain calm as they await the outcome.

He also expressed confidence in the manner in which the polling exercise was carried out by the EOJ. He dismissed Mrs. Simpson Miller’s claim that some people were denied the right to vote, saying that the only persons barred from voting were those ineligible to do so.

CAFFE to give its report
The Citizens’ Action for Free and Fair Election (CAFFE) is expected to disclose its findings on yesterday’s Election Day activities this afternoon at a press briefing.

Last night, Director of CAFFE Fabian Brown said the organisation had in its possession reports from volunteers on all 60 constituencies, however the final assessment and analysis would be made this morning followed by its announcements at 1 p.m.

Yesterday Mr. Brown reported that CAFFE was satisfied with the election proceedings however there were general concerns about violence.

CAFFE was one of three observer groups which monitored the election, fielding 1,505 volunteers across Jamaica. Some CAFFE observers were deployed to specific areas within constituencies while others roved.

Post-election crime
Police have reported several incidents of crime across the Corporate Area following the announcement of the preliminary results of the national polls.

They have confirmed that two soldiers were shot and injured last night in Mountain View, St. Andrew and Arnold Road, Kingston.

A house was reportedly firebombed and gunshots fired at civilians and police in the community of Woodford Park in South East St. Andrew.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Charles Scarlet said police personnel are in some of these areas as part of the security force’s post election strategy.

There were also reports of shots being fired in downtown Kingston, Central Kingston, Windward Road, South Camp Road and the Spanish Town Road area.

Police confirmed that the Mobile Reserve compound on South Camp Road was attacked by gunmen who fired a barrage of gunshots at the premises for at least 30 minutes.

However police said there were no injuries.

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LATEST: N E St. Ann ballot box theft was ‘attempted only’
St. Ann police have confirmed an attempted break-in at the house of an Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) supervisor in Priory.

The incident reportedly took place shortly after 1 a.m. in the consitutency of North East St. Ann.

Superintendent Patricia White says the supervisor’s car was broken into and attempts made at stealing three of five ballot boxes that were in the vehicle.

Superintendent White said the intruders than attempted to kick off the door of the supervisors house.

However Director of Elections (EOJ) Danville Walker says no ballot boxes were present in the supervisor’s car at the time of the incident.

East Portland voting
In East Portland where Dr. Donald Rhodd is representing the People’s National Party (PNP) and Dennis Wright the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), there have been no reports of incidents.

However the polling station at the Boston Primary School opened 35 minutes late as the supervisor reportedly received the wrong set of election material.

Several persons also turned up early to cast their ballots.

And despite the intermittent showers across the parish electors have been casting their ballots.

Police investigating Lacovia murder
Lacovia police are investigating the circumstances under which 30-year-old Michael Foster was murdered this morning.

According to reports, a woman living in Bardon district in St. Elizabeth went to investigate a knock on her door just after 12 a.m.

Upon opening the door she found Mr. Foster suffering from gunshot wounds.

Police are yet to establish a motive for the killing.

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Deanery Road update
Police have identified two of the three persons who were shot dead at 15 1/2 Deanery Road in St. Andrew yesterday afternoon.

They are 48-year-old Ferris Adam of a Kingston 20 address and Mark Reid from St. Ann.

The third man remains unidentified.

Crime Officer for Eastern Kingston Deputy Superintendent Michael Ellis says the killings may have been a reprisal for the killing of three persons in Vineyard Town on Friday night.

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Manchester killing
Mandeville police have confirmed that a man was shot dead and another injured in Comfort District, Central Manchester this morning.

The police say 23-year-old Trevor ‘Matthew’ Morgan otherwise was killed at about 2:30 a.m. His cousin was seriously injured and admitted to hospital

Mr. Morgan, a labourer from Marverly in Kingston had been living at his cousin’s house for some time.

Police say the men were shot by a man who kicked opened their door and fired shots.

Police have not yet determined a motive for the killing.

Observers ready
Citizens’ Action for Free and Fair Elections, CAFFE, says it is fully prepared to monitor today’s general election.

CAFFE Director Fabian Brown says more than 15-hundred volunteers have been deployed across the 60 constituencies.

Thirty-eight Organisation of American States’ (OAS) observers, from 13 different countries, are also in the island.

They will monitor the voting in at least 42 per cent of Jamaica’s 60 constituencies.

Hurricane Felix
A tropical storm watch remains in effect for Jamaica as the center of Felix is now located about 275 miles south-southeast of the island.

The category five-strength storm is said to have intensified yesterday chopping winds at 165 miles per hour with a current pressure of 929 milibars.

Periods of showers and gusty winds are likely to affect sections of the island this morning and into the afternoon.
Currently it is estimated that Hurricane Felix will pass 296 miles south of Grand Cayman early tomorrow morning while racing to Honduras.

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Banning political meetings
Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas has accepted the recommendation of the Political Ombudsman to ban political rallies, motorcades and meetings in Kingston, St. Andrew and St. Catherine with immediate effect.

Members of the Election Centre made the recommendation yesterday, after several violent incidents, believed to be politically motivated.

Four people were killed in St. Catherine including a policeman and two others injured.

And in East St. Andrew, two Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) workers were shot and injured while traveling through the constituency with their candidate Dr. St. Aubyn Bartlett.

In another incident in Canterbury, North West St. James three JLP workers were reportedly shot in two separate drive-by incidents.

Political parties on ban
Both major political parties have agreed to comply with the decision of the police high command.

PNP General Secretary Donald Buchanan says the party will be making the necessary changes in its campaign activities.

He also says the ban is not likely to negatively affect the party’s chances at the polls on Monday.

Meanwhile JLP General Secretary Karl Samuda says his party is confident that its previous campaign work has placed it in a strong position ahead of the election on Monday.

Lawsuit against Vaz
People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for Western Portland Abe Dabdoub this morning filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court against his JLP contender Daryl Vaz on the grounds of dual citizenship.

The hearing is set for September 13.

Mr. Vaz is one of several JLP candidates who the People’s National Party has accused of having dual citizenship.

Earlier this month, PNP Chairman Robert Pickersgill wrote to the Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Jamaica, Professor Errol Miller asking him to investigate reports that some JLP candidates have dual citizenship.

The party claims that it has credible information that at least seven JLP candidates are citizens of other countries.

The lawsuit against Mr. Vaz is the first one filed since the accusations surfaced.