THE two major political parties pulled out all the stops with massive cheering sections on Thursday as they nominated candidates to contest the February 26 Local Government Elections.

In most constituencies across the island Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and People’s National Party (PNP) supporters, clad in their traditional green and orange, respectively, turned out in their hundreds to back their candidates, even in seats where they know they have little or no chance of winning.

Following what police reports suggest was an almost incident-free nomination process, the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) reported that 499 candidates had been nominated to contest the 228 electoral divisions and the Portmore mayoral post.

According to the EOJ, the two major political parties nominated full slates of candidates to contest the polls, while four people were nominated to represent the United Independents’ Congress (UIC) and 36 people were nominated as independents.

In Portmore, as was reported by the
Jamaica Observer on Thursday, the PNP’s Leon Thomas, the JLP’s Markland Edwards, and independent candidate Howard Hamilton were nominated to contest the mayoral election.

Observer reporters and photographers were on the streets on Thursday and full coverage of the nomination runs from Page 3 to 9.