Destiny delayed - Golding must wait to be sworn in
It is still not clear when Prime Minister-designate Bruce Golding will be sworn in following Monday's general election. - File
Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Friday | September 7, 2007
The country might have to wait until late next week before Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) leader Bruce Golding is sworn in as the country's next Prime Minister after leading his party to victory in the September 3 general election.
A release from the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) said that returning officers must wait seven days after declaring a candidate elected before returning the writ of election to the director of elections.
According to the release, the seventh day from the final count for most constituencies is September 13. This will be extended for any constituency in which there is a magisterial recount.
Further delay
If a returning officer receives notice of a magisterial recount within four days of the seven-day period, this will delay the return of all documents to the director of elections.
However, as soon as the director of elections receives the documents from the returning officers, he will give notice in the gazette of the candidates so elected.
When Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall receives the writ, he can then initiate the process to swear in a new prime minister.
Meanwhile, General Secretary of the People's National Party (PNP), Donald Buchanan, said yesterday that at least two of the party's candidates have indicated that they would be filing for magisterial recounts. They are D.K. Duncan, who lost the Hanover Eastern seat, and Harry Douglas, who lost in St. Mary South East.
The two were declared winners at the end of the preliminary count, but when the final count was concluded, the JLP candidates, Barrington Grey and Tarn Peralto, came out victorious.
The EOJ confirmed yesterday that at the end of the final count, the JLP won 33 seats to the PNP's 27.
The PNP's candidate for St. James Southern, Derrick Kellier was declared the winner over his JLP rival Noel Donaldson. This result came after Mr. Donaldson was said to have taken the seat after an additional box was counted. At the end of the preliminary count Kellier had a lead of more than 200 votes.
