KINGSTON, Jamaica — Are there going to be local government elections this year?

Prime Minister Andrew Holness is not denying or confirming, but insists that the elections are “overdue”.

“It is overdue” was all the prime minister would say, with a wry smile, as he responded to the question during a one-on-one interview with the Jamaica Observer at Jamaica House, yesterday.

Local  government elections are constitutionally due every three years. The last elections were held on March 26, 2012 , directly electing 228 divisional councillors and the mayor of the municipality of Portmore. They have been due since March, 2015.

The People’s National Party (PNP) secured a landslide victory by winning 151 divisions to the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) 75 in 2012, in addition to the mayorship of Portmore.

The results saw the PNP holding majorities in 12 of the 13 parish councils, with the 13th council, Trelawny, being tied by the two major political parties, with one elected independent candidate.

It was decided by the independent candidate that the mayorship of Falmouth, the capital of Trelawny, would be awarded to the PNP with the JLP receiving the deputy mayor position.

Since Independence in 1962, Local Government elections have been held in 1966, 1969, 1974, 1977, 1981, 1986, 1990, 1998, 2003, 2007, and 2012.

Balford Henry