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Official election results…
The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) announced that the official recount of ballots would be completed today.

The recount began yesterday at centres across the island following Wednesday’s local government elections.

Preliminary results show the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) have won nine councils and the Peoples’ National Party (PNP) three. A tie was declared in the St. Ann Parish Council with both parties winning eight divisions each.

Former Mayor of Portmore, George Lee has indicated that he will not be contesting the final results for the municipality.

The count showed him losing to the JLP’s Keith Hinds by more than 200 votes.

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Local government results…

The ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) have won the local government elections, which electoral officials say had a 42 percent voter turnout.

The JLP won nine of the 13 parish councils, but lost Manchester and Hanover to the opposition Peoples’ National Party (PNP).

Following the 2003 polls, the PNP retained Westmoreland council and the Portmore municipality. Preliminary results indicate that the PNP’s incumbent Mayoral candidate George Lee won the municipality by 27 votes over the JLP’s Keith Hinds.

However, in St. Ann a tie was declared with both the JLP and PNP, winning eight divisions each in the 16-seat council.

In Central Manchester, the JLP’s Sally Porteous won the Mandeville Division over the PNP’s Jones Oliphant. The party also triumphed in St Mary where it won 10 of the 13 divisions.

Joyce Young of the JLP lost the Duhaney Park division of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) to the PNP’s Kevin Taylor.

Election recount on…
The official recounting of ballots are now underway at centres islandwide following yesterday’s parish council elections.

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) had won nine councils and the PNP three, while the St. Ann Parish Council declared a tie with eight divisions each.

Director of Elections Danville Walker announced that the recounts would be completed by Friday.

St. Ann results…
Former mayor of St. Ann’s Bay, Delroy Giscombe announced that the parties would have to find an amicable way to conduct the business of the council. His statement follows the tie in the local government elections. “The JLP councillors have much work to do among the residents of St. Ann” he said.

The JLP who enjoyed a two-seat majority in the previous council, lost two of its sitting councillors.

Lurline Robinson, councillor for the Lime Hall Division, lost to newcomer Desmond Gilmour. While, PNP newcomer, Ian Bell, defeated Conrad Coombs for the Beecher Town Division.

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Analysts on voter turnout…

Political analysts are attributing yesterday’s low voter turnout at the polls to the country’s high crime rate, and a historical disinterest in local elections.

Charlene Sharpe-Pryce said that many persons were still weary from the general elections, and in some instances traumatised by the incidents of crime.

Meanwhile, Gleaner columnist Martin Henry thought some persons had just lost faith in the local government process.

Parties assess performance
The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) expressed disappointment  at  the loss of the Manchester and Hanover parish councils to the Opposition Peoples’ National Party (PNP) during yesterday’s election results.

However, Party Leader, Bruce Golding  took the opportunity to reaffirm the party’s commitment to carrying out local government reform.

Meanwhile, PNP General Secretary, Donald Buchanan said his party performed creditably considering the closeness of the September 3 general elections.

Golding summons MPs
Prime Minister, Bruce Golding has summoned State Minister with responsibility for Local Government Bobby Montague and Junior Housing Minister, Everald Warmington to a meeting today.

It’s expected that the meeting will address certain controversial statements made by both men during the lead up to yesterday’s elections.

According to reports Mr. Montague told supporters at a rally in Portland on Monday night, that the roads in the Fellowship Division would not be repaired, if the  JLP candidate was not elected as the councillor.

Mr. Montague’s comments came days after Mr. Warmington had instructed the Labour Minister to withhold hurricane recovery cheques until after the election.

The comments have led to criticism from the opposition. Director of Elections, Danville Walker also condemned the statements.

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EOJ on vote count…

Director of Elections Danville Walker reported that results are expected in the counting centres by 7:30 p.m., and election results for all divisions should be known by 10:30 p.m.

He also said that 90 per cent of the 6,376 polling stations opened at 7a.m. this morning. Although voting was slow except for the Braeton Division in Portmore, St. Catherine. The polls closed at 7p.m.

Mr. Walker also said he’s yet to recieve reports about the malfunctioning voter identification systems in some divisions today.

According to the EOJ, electoral officials and the police kept a close watch on some trouble spots where there were few incidents. These included the blocking of a road off Mountain View Avenue, St. Andrew.

Political Ombudsman, Bishop Herro Blair also reported that electors voted without problems in a number of polling divisions across the corporate area.

MAJ on media fees
Several radio and television member stations of the Media Association of Jamaica (MAJ), will not be carrying continuous results from the Local Government polls this evening.

The MAJ says this is due to the fee being imposed by the Electoral Office of Jamaica to receive the information.

The Association’s members which include the Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre, CVM Communications Group and the RJR Communications Group say they have been charged fees of between $150,000 and $400,000 per radio or television entity in order to receive the continuous results.

Media houses that have not agreed to pay the fees have been denied access to install equipment at the EOJ’s counting centre in New Kingston.

The MAJ has described the decision by the EOJ as a major blow to free access to public information and notes that it also has all the signs of a strike against press freedom.

It further notes that taxpayers, including the media and media workers’ funds are used to pay to run an election but additional charges are being levelled to receive reasonable updates on the results of the election.

In his response the Director of Elections Danville Walker said the fees were only being charged to access the results information online.

Mr. Walker added that members of the media would be able to access the results, which will be announced by the returning officers.

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Voters on Election Day…

Voters have been trickling in to the polling stations islandwide for the Local Government Elections.

473 candidates are down to contest the parish council elections.

456 candidates are representing the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the Peoples’ National Party (PNP), while there are three (3) from the National Democratic Movement (NDM) and three (3) from the Imperial Ethiopian World Federation (IEWF). 11 persons are running as independent candidates.

Both the PNP and JLP have noinated a mayoral candidate for the Portmore Municipality.

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Jamaica votes again…

The polls are now open for Local Government Elections. 473 candidates are down to contest the parish council elections.

456 candidates are representing the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the Peoples’ National Party (PNP), while there are three (3) from the National Democratic Movement (NDM) and three from the Imperial Ethiopian World Federation (IEWF).

11 persons are also running as independent candidates.

Both the PNP and JLP have nominated a mayoral candidate for the Portmore Municipality.

The last local government elections were held in 2003. The JLP won all the parish council seats except for Westmoreland. The party also prevailed in the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC).

However, the PNP won the Portmore Municipality resulting in George Lee becoming the country’s first directly elected mayor.

The PNP later added the Portland Parish Council to its tally after Mayor Benny White left the JLP to side with the PNP, shifting the balance of power.

CAFFE ready…
The election observer group, Citizens For Free And Fair Elections, CAFFE reported that its volunteers would be in all parishes for the local elections.

CAFFE Director Nancy Anderson said despite a decrease in the number of volunteers she is confident that they are adequately prepared to carry out the task.

CAFFE also announced that a report on the September 3 General Elections and today’s local government polls will be made available early next year.

Police on election prepardness…
The Police High Command reported that its security plans for the election include particular attention to areas, which have a history of violence.

Deputy Commissioner of Police Charles Scarlett highlighted sections of East Kingston, Clarendon and St Thomas.

He also revealed the police have an organised management structure to ensure adequate coverage of the elections across the country.

DCP Scarlett also appealed to members of the public to contact 119, Crime Stop or Operation Kingfish in cases where they notice suspicious activity.

EOJ implements changes…
Director of Elections, Danville Walker for the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) revealed certain changes were now in place to ensure that legitimate voters are not prevented from casting their ballots today.

These changes should reduce the number of incidents in which political outdoor agents tell legitimate voters that they are not registered to cast their ballots.

During the September 3 General Election several outdoor agents reportedly misinformed registered voters.

Mr. Walker also urged electors to take their identification cards with them when they go out to vote.