ST THOMAS, Jamaica — The by-election for the Yallahs Division of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation (STMC) has been set for April 27 while nomination day is April 10.

This after the Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that current councillor for the division, the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Dean Jones had disqualified himself.

According to the high court, his disqualification was on the grounds that, at the time of the November 2016 Local Government elections, he was employed to the government.

Member of Parliament for St Thomas Western James Robertson, in whose constituency Yallahs falls, said following the ruling, he had discussed the matter with JLP general secretary Dr Horace Chang and Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie.

“… I can assure you that Jones (who is no longer employed by the government) will be the candidate,” Robertson told OBSERVER ONLINE earlier this week.

The 10 seats in the STMC are equally divided between the ruling JLP and the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP). However, the JLP had the majority of the popular vote in the election and eventually elected the mayor.

The PNP’s Constantine Bogle, who lost by 125 votes to Jones, brought the election petition against him seeking his disqualification for breaching the Local Government Act, on the basis that he was not a resident of the parish, which is a requirement to be elected as a Councillor, and that he was also employed by the government at the time.

A number of discrepancies arose over whether Jones was employed to the government or had already tendered his resignation prior to being elected.