PNP hopes to retain hold on KSAC with Rae Town magisterial recount
KINGSTON, Jamaica — People’s National Party (PNP) supporter Wendy McGlashan yesterday submitted documents to the Sutton Street Court House requesting a magisterial recount for the Rae Town Division of the Kingston Central constituency.
McGlashan, an elector of Rae Town, was part of the team at the final count held at the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) on November 29, a release from the PNP said.
She noted in her affidavit, according to the release, that “during the counting process I observed numerous instances where the returning officer rejected ballots cast in favour of the PNP candidate, Shawn McGregor, where the voters indicated their intention by way of a tick or multiple Xs”.
Read: How ballots are rejected
The PNP said this led to the result with Rosalee Hamilton elected councillor over Shawn McGregor by 21 votes. With McGregor having the majority of the 68 rejected votes, McGlashan believed this result was incorrect and unjust to the people of Rae Town and should be corrected, the release added.
Hearing for the matter is set for Monday, December 12. “The Court Bailiff
has the summons for the EOJ and other parties in hand and will serve them at
the soonest possible time,” the PNP said.
Meanwhile, the party noted that victory in the Rae Town Magisterial Recount would lead to a 20-20 overall count within the KSAC for both the governing party and the Opposition.
In the case of a tie, per the Local Governance Act 2016, the election of chairman (formerly known as the mayor) of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation would go to the political party with the most number of votes in the overall area.
“As the KSAC overall was won by the PNP by more than 4100 votes, the election of the leader of the KSAC would go accordingly. The deputy mayor would be elected by the JLP,” PNP explained.