By-election today in St. Ann Northeastern

The voters of St. Ann North Eastern go to the polls today to elect their next Member of Parliament in a by-election.

 

The Electoral Office of Jamaica says everything is in place for today's exercise.

 

Election day workers are deployed across 147 polling stations at 27 voting locations in the constituency.

 

There are 43,827 registered voters in the constituency.

 

Employers are being reminded that voters are entitled to three hours time-off from work to vote. 

 

But it does not apply to persons who begin working at 10 am or later, or those who end work at or before 2:00 p.m.

 

Matthew Samuda of the Jamaica Labour Party [JLP], David Anderson, an Independent with past ties to the Peoples National Party [PNP], and Chase Nil of the United Independent's Congress, are contesting the election.

 

The PNP opted not to contest the by-election, which was announced after the incumbent MP, Marsha Smith, suddenly resigned on September 3.

 

The PNP, under the leadership of its President, Mark Golding, questioned the motive of the governing JLP, for hastily holding this by-election, in comparison to its refusal to do likewise in Trelawny South, left without a Representative for a year, as well in two vacant local government divisions, one in St. Thomas and the other in Clarendon.