PNP contemplates magisterial recount in Cornwall Mountain division

Chairman of the People's National Party's Region Six, Colin Hitchman, says the party is contemplating a magisterial recount for the Cornwall Mountain division in Westmoreland.

Hitchman made that announcement on Friday following the final count of ballots cast in the local government elections.

According to the results of the Electoral Office of Jamaica, the Jamaica Labour Party's candidate, Dawnette Foster, won the division, polling 1,497 to the 1,470 votes received by the PNP's Abigail Malcolm.

That means there are 27 votes separating them.

“We are consulting with our legal advisors with a view to consider the possibility or the need for a magisterial recount,” Hitchman told The Gleaner.

He said that the party's decision will be known by noon on Monday.

“There have been some variations as to the results changing sides overnight, therefore, we need clarification, especially the decisions taken on some of these votes,” Hitchman said.

Foster and Malcolm were among eight women who ran in the February 26 local government elections in Westmoreland.

The PNP'S Joan Bahadur of the Friendship division and Julian Chang of the Savanna-la-Mar division have been declared winners of their divisions and will join Foster of the JLP in the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation next week.

- Albert Ferguson 

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