PNP's Saunderson triumphs in Braeton
- posted: 2003-07-22 11:56:57

published: Friday | July 18, 2003

By Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

PEOPLE'S NATIONAL Party (PNP) candidate, incumbent councillor Owen Saunderson, yesterday retained the Braeton division, polling 1,328 votes to 923 for the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Vivien Reeves, to give his party control of the new Portmore municipality.

About 40 per cent of the over 5,000 eligible voters in Braeton voted. The win gives the PNP a 7-5 majority of the seats in the municipality, including that of Mayor George Lee. Independent candidate Alton Duhaney polled 15 votes.

The election went smoothly for the most part. Voting started on time, under the watchful eyes of a strong detachment of heavily armed police personnel. They were vigilant throughout the day, searching persons entering the polling stations; over 50 knives and other wounding implements were seized.

Representatives from the hierarchy of the two major political parties were also visible, mobilising voters throughout the day and to give moral support to their colleagues. These included Phillip Paulwell, Donald Buchanan and Maxine Henry-Wilson, and from

the JLP, Opposition Leader Edward Seaga, Deputy Leader Edmund Bartlett, MPs Pearnel Charles and Shahine Robinson.

Saunderson voted at 8.30 a.m., followed by Reeves and Duhaney. There was friendly rivalry between supporters who clapped and jeered each other in fun.

At the announcement of the result at the Ascot Primary School, JLP supporters, who were quite jubilant up to then, hung their heads, while jubilant PNP supporters lifted victorious candidate, Owen Saunderson, and carried him inside the counting station.

The voting was conducted in an orderly fashion without any signs of intimidation.

In an interview with The Gleaner, Director of Elections Danville Walker lauded the very smooth running of the poll. "I am really impressed with what I am seeing here today, both from a voting perspective and (in terms of) the readiness of the security forces, who are doing a fantastic job. I am of the view that this is the way to go," he said.

The Gleaner also spoke to Political Ombudsman Bishop Herro Blair, who echoed the sentiments of Mr. Walker: "Well, it is a welcome feeling to be here just observing and not called on to mediate. It's just good and effective planning why this is possible."