Jamaicans Voting In By-Election Today

CLARENDON, Jamaica, March 2, 2020 (CMC) – Jamaicans, in the southern parish of Clarendon, are casting ballots in a by-election, today, that political observers say will not affect the current composition of the Parliament, where the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) enjoys a three-seat majority.

The main opposition, People’s National Party (PNP), is not contesting the Clarendon South Eastern seat, so soon before an expected general election, constitutionally due by February 25, next year.

In a statement, the PNP said that the by-election, occasioned by the immediate resignation of Rudyard Spencer, last month, “has not been occasioned by any personal or national emergency, but by the political exigencies of the Jamaica Labour Party to settle the political wrangling, between Senators, Pearnel Charles Jr. and Robert Morgan.”

Charles Jr. is contesting the by-election, on behalf of the JLP, with his main challenger being Dereck Lambert, who is trying to create history, by being the first independent candidate to win the seat.

Both men have expressed confidence that they will emerge victorious, but it is difficult to see Lambert surviving the juggernaut that the JLP is set to unleash today.

The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) said an estimated 41,000 electors are eligible to vote in the by-election.