By a Special Correspondent
There were a number of surprises in the results of the recent Local Government Election in the parish of St Ann.
One of the biggest surprises came from the People’s National Party stronghold, the Lime Hall division. In this division, the PNP lost badly. Not only did former Mayor Desmond Gilmore lose that post, but his own seat in the St Ann Municipal Corporation was taken by the Jamaica Labour Party’s candidate Genevor Gordon-Bailey.
Another surprise was the JLP’s win in the Brown’s Town division. That has been known for years as a PNP republic. Deputy Mayor Delroy Redway said he saw no sign of losing to political neophyte Kim Brown-Lawrence. But on election night, Kim sent the Deputy Mayor packing.
The Dry Harbour division was the strongest PNP division in North West St Ann, coming out of the 2012 Local Government Election , but to the surprise of many people , it is now back into the hands of the JLP.
The decision to replace sitting councillor Arthur Clemetson with newcomer Philpott Mitchell did not do much for the PNP. Clemetson returned to contest the seat as an independent candidate, along with another independent candidate, Desmond Barnett and together they all contributed to a win for the JLP’s Carlton Ricketts.
The PNP received yet another big shock, this time in South East St Ann, widely regarded as the safest PNP seat in Jamaica. Prior to the election, the PNP had all four divisions and this had been so for over 30 years.
However, infighting amongst the comrades created a split which saw one faction supporting MP Lisa Hanna and the other supporting a group led by three councillors, namely: Lydia Richards of Bensonton division, Lambert Weir of Claremont division and Lloyd Garrick of Moneague division.
After the PNP officially endorsed the three councillors as the Party’s candidates, some members of the PNP constituency executive along with some party supporters expressed their opposition and two members of the executive were put forward as independent (PNP) candidates in Claremont and Moneague.
On election night, Weir was able to save his seat despite a strong challenge, but the PNP received a shock in Moneague. Heavy polling for the independent candidate, Vernon Williams, campaign manager for Miss Hanna in last February’s general election, caused the PNP candidate Garrick to lose his once safe seat to the JLP’s Delroy Kelly.
Other losing councillors were PNP councillor for the Ocho Rios division Dr Rohan Williams, who lost to JLP’s Michael Belnavis and PNP Councillor for the Sturge Town division Marlon Garvey losing to Winston Lawrence of the JLP.
JLP Councillor for the Alexandria division, Gilbert McLeod ran as an independent candidate in that division but lost to his JLP successor.
