Lee confident about Braeton by-election
- posted: 2003-06-30 13:08:43

GEORGE LEE, the newly-elected Mayor of the Portmore Municipality, who represented the People's National Party (PNP) in the recent Local Government elections, said he would not be perturbed if the upcoming by-election in the Braeton Division gave the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) majority control of the St. Catherine Parish Council.

The confident Mayor, in an interview with The Gleaner on Friday, said that if the fortunes should weigh in the JLP's favour, performing his duties should not be difficult "if they are positive (in) working towards the good of Portmore."

But, Mr. Lee said, he will be a formidable force because even if the JLP gains a one seat majority, he has a vote on committee decisions and therefore will not allow the opposition to dominate. "They will have more leverage and authority, but it's not like they will ride rough shod over the Council," he said.

Expressing confidence, however, that his party will come out victorious in the by-election, Mr. Lee said the JLP "might not have the advantage" of having majority control of the municipality. He noted that the PNP's candidate, Owen Saunderson, is a strong contender and it is almost certain that he will win.

The PNP and the JLP won five divisions each in the elections on June 19. The election in the Braeton Division was postponed after the JLP's candidate, Winsome Kidd, died just days before the June 19 polls. The JLP has since named businesswoman, Vivien Reeves, as the new candidate. Today is No-mination Day for the by-election, scheduled for July 17.