The Local Government Elections that were due in seven days have been postponed for a third time until February 28, 2024.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Desmond McKenzie, in the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon.

The elections which are constitutionally due every four years were last held in November 2016. They were due to be held in November 2020 but were postponed as the country was still in the grips of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was notwithstanding the fact that General Elections were held two months earlier in September of that year.

Among other things, McKenzie, in piloting and opening the debate on The Representation of the People (Postponement of Elections to Municipal Corporation and City Municipalities) Act – cited that the country’s economic recovery post-COVID, while good, was still fragile. He also said that consultations were still underway to make Portmore the country’s 15th parish.

The parliamentary Opposition has stated that it will not support the latest postponement, with Leader of Opposition Business in the House, Philip Paulwell questioning the real reasons for the postponement. He asked if another postponement will be sought if the country’s economic recovery is not where the government wants it to be in a year’s time.

Paulwell also cited that at least 15 divisions were without representation, some for as long as four years for various reasons, including the death of sitting councillors.

He also argued that the government’s indifferent treatment of local government was in part to blame for the poor voter turnout in elections, including general elections.