JLP’s Foster declared winner of Cornwall Mountain division in Westmoreland

After two days of magisterial recount, the Westmoreland Parish Court today declared Dawnette Foster of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) the winner of the Cornwall Mountain division by 17 votes.

Foster received 1,559 votes to People's National Party (PNP) candidate Abigail Malcolm's 1,542.

She is expected to be sworn in next week Thursday.

“From the night of the election I knew that I won so there was no doubt in my mind about winning because I had already done my tally,” Foster said of the February 26 local government elections.

Yesterday Malcolm's attorneys Maurice McCurdy and Clayton Morgan made legal submissions to the court seeking to have Steve Walters, the senior parish judge who presided over the recount, throw out approximately 90 ballots that were torn or defaced.

In court today the judge ruled against their request and the ballots were awarded to both candidates.

“What they wanted to be thrown out didn't happen and the judge ruled that the voters should not be disenfranchised,” Foster told The Gleaner.

Meanwhile, Malcolm said she will continue to represent the PNP.

“I, comrade Abigail Malcolm, remain as the People's National Party representative for the Cornwall Mountain division in Central Westmoreland. I continue to serve my people with love, respect and dignity,” Malcolm said, noting that she will also continue to demonstrate a high level of leadership and work hand in hand with the people.

The Electoral Office of Jamaica had previously declared Forster the winner following its official count of the votes two weeks ago with a slim margin of 27 votes.

Foster at the time had polled 1,497 to Malcolm's 1,470.

But last Friday, Malcolm, through her attorneys, filed an injunction barring Foster from being sworn in today until the court made a decision.

The PNP won the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation 11-3.

Thirteen of the winning councillors were sworn in earlier today. 

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