News
Tufton: Magisterial recount would have wasted court's time
Monday, January 16, 2012
FORMER Government minister and deputy leader of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Dr Christopher Tufton, who lost the South West St Elizabeth seat by a mere 13 votes, said he opted against a magisterial recount so as not to waste the court's time when it became apparent that the measure would not be in his favour.
"In addition, it is a traumatic experience for all involved, including the supporters, and therefore if there would not be a material difference at the end then we should just forego," he explained.
Tufton, who was responding to journalists at a press conference at the JLP's Belmont Road headquarters in Kingston yesterday, said an error was made by electoral officers in the constituency when it was initially announced that he had defeated the People's National Party candidate Hugh Buchanan by 101 votes.
According to Tufton, when the statement of polls were tallied he only had a slight lead of seven or eight votes and not the 101 as was initially reported by the Electoral Office of Jamaica.
He explained further that he had arranged for a team of lawyers, headed by Wentworth Charles, to represent his interest at the official count, and instructed them to take all appropriate steps to ensure that all the ballots, particularly those rejected, were scrutinised.
He said at the end of the near two-day count, the lawyers — after having perused the numbers — advised him that a magisterial recount would not materially change the results.
"Based on that advice I took the decision, on consulting with the party, that it would have been a waste of the court's time to engage in the magisterial recount," Tufton said.
Meanwhile Tufton, who many were not expecting to have lost, said he remains committed to working for the party and to giving his talents and efforts to the rebuilding process.
As it relates to a specific role, such as a seat in the Senate which is expected to be named today, Tufton said that decision does not rest with him.
"I do intend to be back in the Lower House at some point, therefore that is a personal decision I am taking, but as it relates to other functions, based on consultation with the party leader and then with other functionaries of the party, that will play itself out over time, and I will allow that process to work," he said.
 
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1/17/2012
Nicolas Henry I agree 100%, we in Ja are too short sighted we just see today and for ourselves not for our children and grandchildren. Poor Ja nothing will ever change
1/17/2012
Boy I do love and admire Dr. Tufton. Such a gentleman. So sorry that he lost his seat. He did a fabulous job as the minister of agriculture looking forward to see what he will throw his energy behind this time around. Go for it Doctor Tufton!!
1/16/2012
@wanda woeman,your party could not accomadate people of honor like Claude Clarke, Hugh Small, heather Robinson. I'm sure they would have no use for Mr. Tufton.
And you can claim all you want that you are joking,but I am being serious
1/16/2012
boxes of votes from elsewhere?
1/16/2012
House arrest?
1/16/2012
I've been saying for years that Tufton is about PR. The people in SW St. Elizabeth know the truth. All of the people who just watch announcements in newspapers are wondering why the people got rid of him. Same thing with Holness.
1/16/2012
Nicholas Henry you absolutely nailed it with your comments on the metal trade and fish net size.
Those are the very sentiments I have picked up also.
1/16/2012
Mr. Tufton is a smart man, if the JLP had chosen him as leader they would not be in the position they are in now.
They need to take a leaf out of his book. The people send a message to them in the election and they aren't even taking it they are as cocky as usual and Holness covering for them as usual, if you guys even get the chance to go back, with the kind of mentality you keep holding on to, you are going to get the same result. Wise up people, call a spade a spade....GOSH!!!!
1/16/2012
@Nicolas Henry : too many pretexes for excuses. These people must be held Accountable for squandering the Public's TRUST. Public service is a Public Trust !
1/16/2012
@Nicolas Henry I am curious in terms of the policies that will be honored and continue under the current Admin. The banning of the scrap-metal trade was taken very hard by the comrades like you mention "Box food outa dem mouth." How will the scrap-metal issue be handled, will they implement the necessary safeguards to prevent the cannibalizing of public and private properties? Tearing down what’s left of our infrastructure just to eat a food is not moving forward. Time will tell Mr. Tufton.
1/16/2012
You are wrong Mr. Tufton, it would not have been a waste of time. A Magisterial Recount was not required for your benefit, it was required to prove to the electorate that the 13 vote difference was accurate and that neither candidate benefited from shenanigans or faults within the system.
1/16/2012
Something doesn't sound right here. Better to stop before it is disclosed eh??
1/16/2012
Such a bright, talented man but spent too much time before the cameras..... his plans were always presented to media from conceptualization but were not always implemented.... His marketing and PR background gave him that leadership style, his next time around he needs to focus on the needs of his constituency, let them highlight the good and not him running to the media every time, because at the end of the day it is not so much the national votes but what his constituents think of him
1/16/2012
The People who voted were the ones who put the country first. This man was a co-founder of the NDM who spent most of his younger days espousing ideas like constitutional reforms, separation of powers, accountability in Governance, and most importantly "the NDM's common sense solution to a corrupt and bankrupt political system". To date, what has he done ?. Had anyone read the OCG's report on the tendering of no-bid contract in the sugar deals and the issuance of false statements under oath ?
1/16/2012
Respect Chris Tufton, you are head and shoulders above most if not all your colleagues on both sides of the fence. Just keep doing what you doing.
1/16/2012
I believe Mr. Tufton is a good man with good conscience but I also believe he is in the wrong party. His style and mannerism do not fit with the cut throat, deceptive and arrogant behavior of many of his counterparts in the JLP. Not to say that PNP does not have a few of those types too, but they are masters of how they balance it with the delicate handling of the people.
1/16/2012
So how comes Dr Tufton is quoted elsewhere as saying..
... his agents' tally showed him winning by more than 350 votes even though the preliminary results show him with a 101 vote lead.???
1/16/2012
@Hotta Fire and Red Ants, get a life. Do not worry about Chris Tufton. It's time to focus on Portia Simpson, Omar Davis, Peter Philips and the rest of the bunch. They are ones running the show now.
1/16/2012
Mr T a real person accept defeat gracefully, I commend you for that. It's no surpise to me that you weren't reelected.The moment you suspended the scrap metal trade & increase the net size of the fishermen, to prevent them from killing baby fishes, so they can have fish for tmrw, was political suicide. Knowing that most Jmcns care abt eating today & hoping for food tmrw. They say you shut dwn the scrap metal ting to "Box food outa dem mouth". Thts y JA will never b better, no long trm planning.
1/16/2012
If there was a magisterial recount Hugh Buchanan would have won by more votes... And why was there such a difference in the number declared by the returning officer and the final count... Was there a plot to steal the election for Tufton?? Heard Tufton was at the counting center at 9pm election night.. Whats up with that??
1/16/2012
I found it strange why someone could lose by a mere 13 votes and not wanting a magisterial recount,only god in heaven and the people of SW St.Elizabeth could tell me other wise.The people knew why they were getting into a angry mood for Chris to call for police protection the morning after election.The word was out from long ago that Tufton would be in trouble,so i don't know what the surprise is all about.
1/16/2012
This a man of character, putting the country and the people ahead of himself.
1/16/2012
In this story and the one about Lloyd B all the politicians concerned have shown that they are ppl we can emulate. Mr. T is one of my favourite politicians (the pity is that he is in the wrong party) (lighten up, I am just joking).
Normally I would frown on losing candidates being appointed to the Senate, but I have no problem with him since I think he has much to offer in the future and he should keep his hand in.
I think had he been appointed over A.H. the results might have been different
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