Aspiring candidate rejected at Hanover Eastern nomination centre
Published:Thursday | February 8, 2024 | 11:41 AM
There was drama at the Sandy Bay nomination centre in Hanover this morning after 40-year-old O'Keefe Gocool's application to run as an independent candidate was rejected.
He was the first person to enter the centre when it opened and gave his address as Round Hill Estate in Hanover Eastern.
However, his application was turned down by the returning officer and her team because his name was not on any voters' list in the parish.
After much debate, he claimed that the Constitution gives him the right to be nominated, but the returning officer advised him that his name has to be on a voters' list for him to be nominated as a candidate.
He was turned away and told to lodge his complaint with the Electoral Commission of Jamaica's regional office in Catherine Hall, Montego Bay, St James.
He left very upset, stating that, "This will not be the end of it."
Three Jamaica Labour Party candidates have been nominated. They are Kaydeen Miles of the Chester Castle Division, Devon Brown of the Hopewell Division and Oraldo Anderson of the Sandy Bay Division.
The People's National Party candidates are Wynter McIntosh for Chester Castle, Lennox Fray for Hopewell and the incumbent Deputy Mayor, Andria Dehaney-Grant for Sandy Bay.
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.