#JAVOTES2024 | JLP and PNP claim victory in local polls
Published:Monday | February 26, 2024 | 8:45 PM
Both major political parties are claiming victory following Monday's local government elections.
"The Jamaica Labour Party has won," JLP Leader Andrew Holness said, noting that preliminary results from the Electoral Office of Jamaica show his party leading in seven municipal corporations.
Those preliminary results also show the People's National Party leading in four municipal corporations, with two others tied.
However, PNP President Mark Golding also declared on Monday night that the "PNP has come back", claiming victory in the local polls.
Speaking with journalists at the PNP's headquarters on Old Hope Road, St Andrew, Golding explained that his party is on track to win the popular vote and has increased the number of divisions it controls.
The PNP is leading in Hanover, Manchester, Westmoreland and St Mary municipal corporations, based on preliminary results.
The JLP is ahead in St Catherine, Portland, St Ann, Trelawny, St James, Clarendon and St Elizabeth.
The Kingston and St Andrew and the St Thomas municipal corporations are tied.
The preliminary results also show the PNP's Leon Thomas winning the mayoral race in Portmore, defeating the JLP's Markland Edwards by 14,921 to 10,095.
Independent candidate Howard Hamilton received 269 votes.
Meanwhile, political turncoat Romaine Morris won the Mocho division in the Clarendon Municipal Corporation for the PNP, beating the JLP's Clement Alves. He won 1,240 votes, beating Alves' 1,049. Morris joined the PNP in January.
Darrington Ferguson held the Papine division for the PNP, defeating political turncoat Venesha Phillips of the JLP for a place in the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC). Ferguson won 2,113 votes while Phillips got 1,854. Independent candidate George Planto received 61 votes.
First timer to representational politics Jesse James Clarke of the PNP was elected councillor for the Trafalgar division in the KSAMC. He won 1,691 votes, beating Kari Douglas' 1,021. She switched to the JLP in 2020.
The Electoral Office of Jamaica has reported a preliminary voter turnout of 29.6 per cent.
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