Ruling Jamaica Labour Party wins Local Government elections

The ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) emerged victorious, taking control of eight municipal corporations in the long overdue Local Government elections held on Monday.

According to preliminary results from the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ), the JLP won in eight municipal corporations – Kingston and St. Andrew, Portland, St. Mary, St. Ann, Trelawny, St. James, Clarendon and St. Elizabeth.

The opposition People’s National Party (PNP), that previously controlled the councils, won in the parishes of Hanover, Manchester, Westmoreland, St. Catherine and the Portmore Municipal Council.

However in the eastern parish of St. Thomas - the vote is tied.

Following the announcement of the outcome late Monday, Prime Minister Andrew Holness told JLP supporters at the party’s Belmont Road headquarters in the business district of New Kingston, that this is an endorsement of the Government’s performance since winning the February general election.

“Jamaica is saying you have performed - but we are not taking it for granted, we are going to work even harder, because the situation at the central government is still tight and there is no room for error or complacency”.

While supporters of the JLP celebrated at the party’s headquarters and across the island, it was a subdued atmosphere at the Corporate Area headquarters of PNP, where party’s leader Portia Simpson Miller was noticeably absent.

In addressing the small crowd, PNP General Secretary Paul Burke, said the party had inadequate funds going into the election.

Concerning its defeat at the polls, Deputy General Secretary of the PNP, Julian Robinson said a review of the party’s performance will be conducted.

In Monday’s poll 489 candidates competed for 228 divisions. The preliminary results state that the JLP won 131 divisions to the PNP’s 97.

The final count of the ballots will begin on Tuesday morning.