WESTMORELAND, Jamaica— Comrades in Cornwall Mountain division, Westmoreland, had hoped to have a double celebration on Friday as their candidate Abigail Malcolm celebrated her birthday while she anticipated getting good news from the Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ).

But now the party is looking to consult with their lawyer about a possible magisterial recount as Malcolm lost to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) incumbent councillor Dawnette Foster.

Chairman for the People’s National Party (PNP) Region 6 Collin Hitchman told Observer Online that legal advice is looming.

“We will be consulting with our legal team and see the best way forward. We need to consult and then we can make an announcement which regards any further challenge for the results,” Hitchman revealed.

Hitchman said despite the outcome, the division won ‘in his eyes’ when he looked at the close margin Malcolm pulled on the JLP’s Foster.

“Cornwall Mountain is one of the quote-unquote victory because we have made up a significant [margin]. The last results Miss Foster had a very big margin and in the general election it widened. So, Comrade Abigail made up a very significant and very substantial deficit to be in a challenging position,” he reasoned.

He lauded Malcolm, a first time candidate, and her team for accepting the challenge.

“Kudos to her and her team for having raised a relentless, consistent and very disciplined campaign in the Cornwall Mountain Division,” a cheerful Hitchman said on Friday afternoon.

“She has won the hearts of man and we will be keeping her very close and [we will see] what we can do in terms of maintaining that. She is absolutely tremendous and is one to watch in the future,” he expressed confidently.

He also took the opportunity to bring her warm birthday wishes.

“She really deserves today off to celebrate.  She has achieved so much as a young lady against all odds. Not many people gave her so much hope but she persevered and she took on the challenge. So, happy, happy birthday to her,” he lauded.

Her other birthdays, he said, will be more celebratory. “We can guarantee that”.

Meanwhile, when Observer Online visited Malcolm’s party office in Whithorn, in the Westmoreland, the aromas of pig head being roasted infused the area as party supporters in orange-clad clothes hugged and wished her a happy birthday.

Despite defeat at the polls Malcolm was smiling from ear to ear as she and her comrades partied.

Malcolm lost the division by a margin of 27 votes in the final count, which is an increase from the 16 in the preliminary count on Monday.

-Kimberley Peddie