Portia concedes

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner : Wednesday | September 5, 2007

Shift in results - 32: JLP 28: PNP

The People's National Party (PNP) last night conceded defeat in Monday's general election, but maintained it would reserve its right to challengethe results of some seats once the final counts are made public.

At the same time, the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) said yesterday that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has picked up an additional seat, moving the preliminary count to JLP: 32, PNP: 28. The South St. James constituency first declared for the PNP's Derrick Kellier later went to the JLP's Noel Donaldson.

Constitutional issues

In a statement, PNP president and outgoing Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller stressed that a determination of the "constitutional issues" by the court, as well as the final count in all seats could still have a bearing on the outcome of the election.

She, however, added: "The People's National Party accepts the announced preliminary results, while reserving all legal rights under the Jamaican constitution and our electoral laws."

Mrs. Simpson Miller had come in for bitter criticism from some quarters after declaring Monday night that her party would not immediately concede defeat, claiming there were incidents of voter intimidation and criminality that led to the preliminary results.

However, in her statement last night, she said: "The People's National Party, as part of its highest traditions, respects and will always respect the voice of the Jamaican people and their will as expressed in the vote."

The PNP president's statement suggested the party may still pursue legal challenges against the eligibility of at least four JLP candidates who were elected at the polls. The PNP has claimed these persons have pledged allegiance or obedience to foreign countries and, under the Constitution, do not qualify to sit in Parliament.

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) General Secretary Karl Samuda told The Gleaner last night that it was unfortunate Mrs. Simpson Miller had to "qualify" her concession statement.

Fast-track results

Yesterday, returning officers and candidates of the 60 constituencies islandwide were asked to 'burn the midnight oil' to count election ballots, in an attempt to fast-track the final results from the polls.

According to Director of Elections Danville Walker, the results may now be released tonight, instead of tomorrow as first suggested by the EOJ.

Mr. Walker said he had recommended that returning officers and the 60 candidates put in place the necessary arrangements to work late Tuesday night to "be able to finish this count as quickly as possible".

Several calls were made to The Gleaner's newsroom yesterday from persons in constituencies where the results in the general elections were marginal. The callers suggested there was growing tension in their respective constituencies as a result of unconfirmed reports about the results of the recounts.

There were also reported incidents of clashes between PNP and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters in the Clarendon North West constituency. Roadblocks were mounted in Bull Bay, St. Thomas, reportedly by political thugs. The police however cleared the blockade.