KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, today (January 3), received the official results of last week’s general election from the Director of Elections, Orrette Fisher.
This clears the way for Prime Minister designate, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller, to be formally sworn in as Prime Minister.
“Following the completion of the official count of ballots cast in the December 29 poll, the Director of Elections, Orrette Fisher, sent an advisory to Governor-General, Sir Patrick Allen, officially notifying him of the political party that secured the majority seats in Parliament. This will now clear the way for the swearing in of the new Prime Minister,” a release from the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) reads.
Mrs. Simpson Miller is scheduled to be sworn in at King’s House on Thursday (January 5), in a ceremony to begin at 4:00 p.m.
The Electoral Office of Jamaica’s (EOJ) official count has confirmed that the People’s National Party (PNP) won 42 of the 63 seats, with the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), securing the remaining 21.
The release notes that all candidates who contested the December 29 poll have four days, following the completion of the official count in each constituency, within which to file for magisterial recounts.
It also states that Returning Officers are now required to submit results and returns of writs, along with a report, seven days after the completion of the final count in their respective constituencies. Copies of the writs will be issued to the Clerk of the Houses to facilitate the swearing in of Members of Parliament.
“The Electoral Office will now be focusing its energies on paying the over 30,000 election day workers who served in various capacities on Election Day. It is anticipated that these payments will be completed by the end of January,” the release says.
