KINGSTON, Jamaica– At least three divisions in three parishes that were determined by small margins in the February 26 local government election will be subjected to magisterial recounts.

The most significant of the three is the Kintyre division in St Andrew East Rural which went to the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Vivienne Brown-Bond, who polled 1,319 votes to the 1,287 polled by the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Kelvin Clarke, a difference of 32 votes.

The JLP is hoping that its candidate is successful at the recount as that would break the 20-20 tie in the coveted Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) which the PNP will chair, and also appoint the mayor, having won the popular vote.

Meanwhile, the PNP is heading to court for two magisterial recounts according to the party’s general secretary, Dr Dayton Campbell. These are for the Llandewey division in St Thomas and Southboro in Portmore, St Catherine, which the PNP lost by single digits.

The Llandewey division has particular significance since it could determine whether the JLP holds onto its 6-4 margin in the St Thomas Municipal Corporation or whether it ends in a 5-5 tie similar to the 2016 election.

Following the preliminary count on Monday night, both the PNP’s Edwin Marr and the JLP’s Andrea Patience had polled 1,306 votes each. However, following the final count, Patience received an additional 10 votes to finish with 1,316 while Marr picked up an additional three votes to total 1,309 votes.

Southboro, in St Catherine East Central, was declared for the JLP by the slimmest of margins – three votes.

On Monday night, the PNP’s Everton Shakes was declared the winner by four votes over the JLP’s Damara Lawson.

But, after the final count, Lawson was declared the winner, polling 1,008 votes to Shakes’ 1,005.

Of note is that Shakes was a replacement for Ainsley Parkins who was shot and killed last year.

Both parties have expressed that they expect to prevail following the recounts.