PNP to decide on magisterial recounts

The Opposition People's National Party (PNP) is to decide today whether to seek magisterial recounts in Trelawny Northern and St Catherine East Central, where the party says the number of rejected ballots exceeded the margins of victory.

The Trelawny Northern seat was retained by incumbent Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate Tova Hamilton, who polled 8,185 votes, to the PNP's Dr Wykeham McNeill, who polled 7,820 votes, giving Hamilton a victory by 365 votes.

Some 41.6 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballots in the constituency.

However, a PNP spokesman told The Gleaner that the number of rejected ballots was around 500 — more than the margin of victory.

In St Catherine East Central, the JLP's Alando Terrelonge polled 6,364 votes to the PNP's Raymond Pryce, who polled 5,379 votes — giving Terrelonge a victory margin of 985 votes.

Some 37.8 per cent of eligible voters turned out.

The party spokesman told The Gleaner that this constituency is also being considered for a magisterial recount, as the rejected ballots numbered over 900.

“We will decide today if the party is going to seek magisterial recounts in North Trelawny and St Catherine East Central, as the number of rejected ballots exceeds the margins of victory,” the spokesman told The Gleaner.

Over in Kingston Central, where the PNP’s candidate Steve McGregor was declared the winner on election night — only to have that result reversed, with the JLP’s Donovan Williams declared the winner following the final count — the PNP spokesman said the party’s attorneys have reviewed the case but no decision has been taken to seek a magisterial recount.

“I am not sure that we will seek a recount in this constituency, as the attorneys are still not convinced about overturning this result,” he said.

He noted that the seat is still under consideration. Williams won by a margin of 79 votes.

The PNP spokesman added that the decision to seek magisterial recounts depends on the reasons the ballots were rejected and whether there is a reasonable chance of overturning the result in a given constituency.

“Right now, I am aware that the two constituencies being looked at for magisterial recounts are North Trelawny and St Catherine East Central,” he said.

There will be a meeting of all PNP election candidates tomorrow, according to the spokesman.

Jamaicans went to the polls on Wednesday, 3 September, and returned the JLP to a third consecutive term of government.

The JLP won 35 seats to the PNP’s 28.

The voter turnout for the election was 39.5 per cent.

- Lester Hinds

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