JLP local government election petitions struck out

The Supreme Court today dismissed separate election petitions filed by two Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidates who were defeated in the last local government elections.

The petitions were filed by attorneys for Kelvin Clarke, the JLP candidate for the Kintyre Division of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), and Jeremiah Edwards who contested the Ginger Ridge Division in the St Catherine Municipal Corporation.

The People's National Party's (PNP) Vivienne Brown Bond and Ralston Wilson were elected councillors for the Kintyre and Ginger Ridge divisions, respectively, in February 26 local elections.

The orders to dismiss the petitions were made following separate applications for them to be struck out “as an abuse of the court process”, according to attorneys for Brown Bond and Wilson.

Lawyers for the JLP candidates reportedly did not challenge the application.

Michael Jordan, one of the attorneys for the PNP councilors, explained that both petitions did not fulfill the legal requirements outlined in the Election Petition Act.

The legislation, he explained, gives specific time periods for a petition to be filed and served on all parties and for security of costs to be paid over.

However, Jordan said both petitions were not served within the time stipulated by law and no security costs were paid.

“So our argument is that there is no petition before the court because it was null and void,” he explained.

The JLP candidates were seeking to have the election results voided.

Follow The Gleaner on X and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.