Jamaica’s local government election is to be held on February 26, Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie announced.
He made the announcement a short while ago at a Jamaica Labour Party meeting, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James.
Nomination Day is February 8.
The local government election, which is constitutionally due every four years, was last held in November 2016. It was due to be held in November 2020 but was postponed as the world was still grappling with the COVID-19 pandemic — even though the general election was held in September of that year.
It was postponed again in January 2022 for the same reason — COVID-19.
In 2022, for a third time, the local government election was postponed until no later than February 28, 2024.
At the time, Minister McKenzie explained that the third postponement would allow the country to continue its post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
McKenzie had also noted that the postponement will provide further time to conclude consultations regarding Portmore becoming Jamaica’s 15th parish. But in a recent update, Prime Minister Andrew Holness said the law to make Portmore a parish would not be ready before the election was due to happen.
Prime Minister Holness ready
Last month, Prime Minister Holness declared his party’s readiness for the polls.
In a January meeting with the party’s senior officers, he received reports on the party’s readiness for an election.
Reports were submitted by Chairman Robert Montague, General Secretary Dr Horace Chang, Deputy Chairman Dr. Aundre Franklyn, Chairman of Area Council One Desmond McKenzie, and Party Treasurer Aubyn Hill.
In a statement, Holness said that based on the reports he received, he was “confident in the prospects of the Jamaica Labour Party for the upcoming elections, as the internal polling numbers showed the Jamaica Labour Party maintaining a strong lead in a majority of parish council seats.”
The Jamaican government has set aside some $1.7 billion for the local government election.
