Voting slow in North East St. Ann by-election

By Nakinskie Robinson   

 

Voter turnout remains low in the North East St. Ann by election as electors choose a representative to replace Member of Parliament Marsha Smith, who resigned earlier this month.

 

Matthew Samuda of the Jamaica Labour Party, David Anderson - an independent with past ties to the People's National Party, and Chase Neil of the United Independents' Congress, are contesting the election.

 

Polls opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 5 p.m.

 

Up to 11 a.m., the voter turnout for the by-election was 5.12 per cent.

 

The turnout for the comparative period in the September 3, 2020 general election was 16.44 per cent. 

 

 

Meanwhile, Member of Parliament hopeful and Jamaica Labour Party candidate Matthew Samuda, who expressed confidence of a victory at the close of polls, said his campaign is not complacent despite the opposition People's National Party's absence. 

 

"The biggest influence on the voter turnout is the decision of the opposition not to formally contest. Now, despite the decision not the formally contest, the mischief of nominating an independent candidate is why you actually have an election today and it's all part of the democratic process. By-elections, statistically from as far back as the 1940s, do attract a lower turnout, usually between 20 and 30 per cent. Now if you go to the by-elections...where you have a boycott of sorts from whoever the opposition is of the day, usually it drops to between 10 and 15 per cent," he reasoned. 

 

Mr. Samuda insisted the JLP will win the by-election and, with that victory, bring legitimacy to the constituency which has been going through a period of transition. 

 

MP for East Central St. James, Edmund Bartlett, who has been showing support in the constituency for his government colleague, said Mr. Samuda represents the future of governance in Jamaica.

 

He said Mr. Samuda has much to offer constituents and had been effective in his capacity as Minister with Responsibility for Water, a role he resigned to contest the by-election. 

 

According to Mr. Bartlett, the results from Monday's by-election will represent the JLP's standing heading into the next general election. 

 

"Well, this election would create a sense of the retention of our support in areas like this. Indeed, even based on the turnout, it could reflect the level of increase as well across the board. This is not an easy moment for third term arrangements, as you know, but if it is felt by our people that we're performing, as we know that they really feel, then the results of this election will be very encouraging for us," he suggested. 

 

 

Independent candidate David Anderson, who is also confident of victory, expects voting to pick up pace later on Monday.

 

"Most of my voters are really working class people so they are coming in in the afternoon. All is well and still in high spirits and waiting to go," he told Radio Jamaica News. 

 

Mr. Anderson said he has been impressing on constituents that they should "be cognizant of the fact that it's the same cycle that we have been faced with over the years, and it's being repeated. So we have to make a change, and a change must happen."

 

Meanwhile, several elderly people who cast their ballots early Monday morning, said the voting process was quick. 

 

"Everything is running smoothly. You know, no violence, nobody arguing, nothing like that. Everybody is just going through the right and proper way," one woman told Radio Jamaica News.