KINGSTON, Jamaica— Former Opposition Leader Dr Peter Phillips has dismissed as “nothing more than a side show” talk of by-elections.

He has also slammed as “disrespect for the Jamaican people” the decision by Prime Minister Andrew Holness to be selective in where by-elections are held.

He was speaking Sunday as he addressed the public session of the 86th annual conference of the People’s National Party (PNP) inside the National Arena.

“It’s disrespect for the right to representation for the people of South Trelawny and Morant Bay who have been without representation for extended periods,” Phillips charged.

Of note is that days after a vacancy arose in St Ann North East with the resignation of the sitting Member of Parliament, the Jamaica Labour Party’s Marsha Smith with immediate effect, Holness announced a by-election to replace her. Matthew Samuda resigned from the Senate and was nominated on September 11 for the September 30 by-election. He will be challenged by two independents; the PNP is boycotting the election.

Phillips made the call for legislation reform that he said would cause a by-election to be held in a specified time whenever there is a vacancy. Such power, he said, should be given to the Electoral Commission of Jamaica “so people stop playing and monkeying around with the constitutional right of the Jamaican people”.

Holness has stated that other by-elections will be held.

The Morant Bay Division of the St Thomas Municipal Corporation has been vacant since May this year following the sudden death of the PNP Councillor, Rohan Bryan. The death earlier this month of the JLP Councillor for the Aenon Town Divison of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation has created another vacancy at the local government level.

Additionally, there is an upcoming vacancy in St Andrew North Western as the sitting Member of Parliament, Finance Minister Dr Nigel Clarke, has been recruited by the International Monetary Fund as a Deputy Managing Director. He will take up the position at the end of October.