THOUGH uncertainty lingers about the fate of the 2023 Local Government Election, several existing local representatives in St Ann have been anxiously ready and waiting to reclaim their victory and continue on the path of serving residents in their respective divisions for another term.

“I am confident that, if and when the Government is ready to call the election, the JLP will retain the Lime Hall Division. I believe that I have represented my people fairly well, and whenever time the prime minister or minister of local government is ready to call the election, I believe that I will continue to be the councillor representing the people of Lime Hall,” Councillor Genevor Gordon Bailey (Jamaica Labour Party) told the Jamaica Observer.

According to Gordon Bailey, she would have shown her ability to represent based on evident changes within her division.

“I would have given them quality leadership, and they would have seen it from 2016 to now the sort of changes that took place in the community. But, I’m still out here doing my work in the community so my people are not disenfranchised due to the election not being called,” she said

“But, we are just waiting. My people are ready, the worker base and everything is in order, just waiting on the day,” she added.

Likewise, Deputy Mayor Dallas Dickenson (Jamaica Labour Party, St Ann’s Bay Division) says he is never doubtful about claiming victory in his division, and he is highly anticipating another term with his people.

“I’m always ready. It is 20 years straight that I would have been elected as a councillor and I don’t have any thought about losing because the people always decide in my favour. If the election call tomorrow I don’t have a problem because the JLP always win this division,” Dickenson stated.

Constitutionally, a local government election should be held every four years, however the last one held was in December 2016. It was postponed in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by another 12-month delay in February 2021, and persons were anxiously waiting for the polls to be opened some time in February 2023.

Dickenson added that he is being patient with the Government and its decision on the election.

“The Government has its decision of when and where to call it, and coming out of the last postponement [due to] COVID issues we can appreciate that the economy is very fragile — and we don’t want to disturb it with that. They know what they are doing and we just have to work with that. I’m still out here doing the work,” he said

However, Councillor Lydia Richards of the minority People’s National Party (Bensonton Division) told the Sunday Observer that the election date should have been announced already as the parish’s governance is of paramount importance.

“They need to call it so we can get on with the business of governing the parish. The people are depending on us as leaders and it doesn’t make sense to have them wondering when the election will be called,” said Richards.

Residents in her division have also been questioning the status of the election.

“My people want to find out what is happening because they are anxious and we are prepared, but I explain to them that we can’t do anything. It is really the Government, so we just have to wait and continue to prepare,” she said, while adding “We just really want to get it over and done with.”

The delay, according to Councillor Winston Brown (People’s National Party, Borrobridge Division), has left persons to question the importance of the local authority.

“Some people are being turned off because they are saying that if they can just postpone the election like that all the time then the representation by us councillors is not very necessary,” Brown stated.

Brown said he has been preparing for the election for a “quite a while” and is hoping that the country will know the actual date soon.

“I have been planning for election, excited and ready, only to hear about postponement. I don’t think it is good for us, especially the new candidates who have been out there working for a period of time. I think they are weary now and discouraged,” he told the Sunday Observer.

“I think it is best if we could know when the election will be so we can work and look forward toward that date. But, we have to just work with the system,” Brown added.