Edmond Campbell, Senior News Coordinator
Director of Elections Danville Walker in his office - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
BOTH MAJOR political parties are working feverishly to complete their candidate selection process by the end of this month in preparation for general elections, which could be called in less than two months.
Although general elections are constitutionally due in 2007, a senior official of the governing People's National Party (PNP) declared that the trumpet could sound before the PNP's annual conference in September.
And, the publication on June 16 of the preliminary voters' list, described by Director of Elections, Danville Walker, as the cleanest list in the history of Jamaica, means that it's all systems go when elections are announced.
OWN MANDATE
Late last week, chairman of the PNP Robert Pickersgill told party faithfuls at a meeting in Sanguenetti, Clarendon, that Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller could seek her own mandate before the party's annual conference.
Mr. Pickersgill urged party supporters to ensure that they are prepared.
Candidate selection to represent the PNP in the next general election is expected to culminate this weekend with run-offs in several parishes, including St. James, Manchester, Clarendon, St. Elizabeth, and Kingston and St. Andrew.
On the weekend, two incumbent Members of Parliament brushed aside challengers seeking to represent the party in the next election, while former Member of Parliament for Central Kingston, Ronnie Thwaites, won the right to go up against the JLP in that constituency after defeating the sitting MP, Victor Cummings.
Veteran politician Harry Douglas staved off challenges from Loran Ferguson, Patrick White and Donovan Nolan to stand as the PNP candidate in South East St. Mary in the next general election. MP for Eastern Portland, Dr. Donald Rhodd also outpaced his contenders Dr. Linvale Broomfield and Dr. Dennis Minott, former JLP caretaker, in a selection contest.
General secretary of the JLP, Karl Samuda, told The Gleaner last week that his party would be contesting all seats in the upcoming elections. He said the party is working to have all candidates in place by the end of June.
Make-up of voters' list
The June 16 publication of the voters' list contains 1,259,790 electors. Nearly 185,000 persons were removed from the list after the Electoral Office of Jamaica completed its extensive reverification exercise.
St. Ann North Eastern, the largest constituency, has 32,690 electors followed by St. Catherine South Western with 29,064; St. Andrew West Rural with 28,910; and St. Catherine Southern with 28,648 electors.
Director of Elections Danville Walker said the Electoral Office of Jamaica's (EOJ) centres are open for continuous registration for persons wishing to have their names on the next list which will be published on November 30.
