KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) will not be contesting the recently announced by-election for St Ann North East on September 30 this year.

The party made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday.

Noting that his party is currently preparing for general elections to enable the people to vote in a new government, President Mark Golding said the party will not be contesting by-elections at this late stage in the run-up to the general elections.

“The People’s National Party remains steadfast in our mission to protect and strengthen Jamaica’s democracy. We will not enter any process that seeks to undermine the very principles we hold dearly. Instead, we will focus on ensuring that every Jamaican has a voice and that every constituency is treated with the fairness and respect it deserves,” Golding said.

Furthermore, Golding noted that parliament in 2016 legislated that there should be no by-elections for Municipal Corporations within a 12-month period leading up to local government elections.

He said the PNP will contest the local government by-elections which are due as required by law, as local government elections are not due for another three and a half years.

The by-election was announced by Prime Minister Andrew Holness early Wednesday following Monday’s resignation from Marsha Smith, with immediate effect.

Nomination day is September 11.

READ: PM announces NE St Ann by-election

Pointing to the constituency of Trelawny Southern which has been without a parliamentary representative for a full year, Golding said: “It is striking and unprecedented that this by-election was announced less than 24 hours after the resignation of the Member of Parliament.”

He continued, “The prime minister has clearly orchestrated the holding of this by-election which is a slap in the face of the electors of Southern Trelawny, who have had no parliamentary representative for a full year, a quarter of the life of this House of Representatives. It is also a slap in the face of the people of Morant Bay, whose right to elect a councillor within 90 days of a vacancy was abridged by the Holness administration using an amendment to the Representation of the People Act, a by-election which is legally due now.”

Golding also noted that the first notification to the country regarding the resignation of cabinet Minister and Senator, Matthew Samuda was within the context of announcing a by-election.

“The government is in the fifth and final year of its term of office. It is becoming increasingly unpopular, and recent events show that it is on the ropes,” Golding said.