Venesha and Kari lose as PNP grabs at KSAMC

Kari Douglas and Venesha Phillips, who switched allegiances from the People's National Party (PNP) to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), have lost their seats in the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation based on the preliminary results of yesterday's local government election.

Both women had originally won their seats under the PNP banner in 2016 but contested this election under the JLP. Douglas faced defeat in the Trafalgar Division, losing to the PNP's Jesse Clarke by a margin of 670 votes. Clarke secured 1,691 votes compared to Douglas' 1,021.

In the Papine Division, the PNP's Darrington Ferguson (2,113) beat Phillips (1,854) by 259 votes.

Victory for the PNP in both divisions put the PNP in poll position to win the 40-seat KSAMC, which was tied 20-20, based on preliminary results list night. The JLP won the KSAMC in 2016 with 21 divisions to the PNP's 19. On that occasion, the JLP's Rosalie Hamilton won the Rae Town Division by one vote, polling 1,884 votes the the PNP's Shawn GcGregor who got 1,883. In yesterday's election, Hamilton got 2,182 while McGregor got 1,801.

The Kintyre Division, which falls in St Andrew East Rural, was the only one to change hands after the PNP's Vivienne Brown-Bond beat the JLP's Kelvin Clarke by 29 votes.

If last night's elections hold, the popular vote is likley to determine which party controls the KSAMC. The PNP appears to have won the popular vote with 64,930 over the JLP that got 50,254.