KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie has summoned the Jamaica Labour Party councillors in the St Thomas Municipal Corporation to a meeting tomorrow.

This development follows today’s occurrences at the swearing-in ceremony for councillors, which was boycotted by the victorious candidates for the People’s National Party.

A news release from the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development said the PNP councillors are contending that with a 5-5 tie in the parish, and with a pending election petition for the Yallahs Division, the entire process of swearing-In councillors should have been postponed.

However, the minister says this violates the accepted convention where a tie occurs.

“It is well known, and indeed, the director of elections has referred to it, that the party with the popular vote in the parish selects the mayor, and the other side will select the deputy mayor.

In this instance, the mayor comes from the Jamaica Labour Party. Despite the fact that an election petition has been filed with respect to the Yallahs Division, there is no justification for the duly elected representatives who won on the PNP ticket to refrain from being sworn in today,” he said.

Concerns have also reportedly been expressed that at today’s ceremony, the newly sworn councillors selected as deputy mayor, a councillor who represents the JLP.

Minister McKenzie says the occurrences at the municipal corporation will be fully reviewed. 

He emphasised however, that the convention will be respected and upheld, where once a tie occurs, the party with the popular vote will select the mayor, while the other party selects the deputy mayor.