PM could have been premature in announcing Seiveright Gardens by-election, says Kingston’s mayor
KINGSTON, Jamaica —Mayor of Kingston Andrew Swaby is seeking legal advice on whether a by-election can be held for the Seiveright Gardens Division in St Andrew West Central on September 3, as announced by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness on Sunday.
Addressing a massive crowd of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters at a mass meeting in Half-Way-Tree, St Andrew, Holness announced that when Jamaicans go to the polls for a general election on September 3, local government by-elections will be held in the Chancery Hall, Olympic Gardens, Seiveright Gardens and Denham Town divisions.
But Swaby told Observer Online that while it is all clear for by-elections in three of the four divisions — Chancery Hall, Olympic Gardens, and Denham Town — it is not so clear for Seiveright Gardens.
“There is a letter that I have written that I will release to the press on the three but the Seiveright Gardens Division I am yet to get a resignation [from sitting councillor the JLP’s Delroy Williams] and I have checked with the CEO [Robert Hill].
“Just in case Mr Williams sent a resignation it would have to first be recorded in the minutes of the KSAMC (Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation) and it is my right as mayor to call that election within 90 days,” Swaby told Observer Online.
According to Swaby, he was surprised to hear the prime minister announce the Seiveright Gardens Division among those where by-elections will be held.
“I need to seek legal advice on it as I doubt a by-election is possible because the resignation has to be recorded in the minutes of the KSAMC and the next council meeting is on the second Tuesday in September [September 9],” said Swaby as he noted that the municipal corporation is now on break and will not meet this month.
“But as I said, I am speaking to you without the benefit of legal advice and will give the media something official later,” added Swaby as he argued that the prime minister might have been premature in making the announcement.
Williams, a former Mayor of Kingston, now serves as the deputy mayor after both parties ended the 2024 local government election with equal number of seats in the KSAMC but the PNP was allowed to select the mayor having received the higher number of votes.
The JLP has selected Williams to be its standard bearer in Clarendon Central where he will replace Lester Mike Henry who held the seat for more than 30 years.
