KSAMC tie remains after councillor-elect retracts withdrawal

The Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) remains in a deadlock between the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People's National Party (PNP)  following last month's local government election.

The balance was initially thrown into disarray on Tuesday after veteran politician, Winston Ennis, was heard on a leaked voice message declaring he was going independent. 

Ennis admitted in a media statement on Wednesday that the “leaked voice note” was sent to a JLP-affiliated group where his sentiments were expressed “in the heat of the moment”.

He complained in the voice note that “the way I have been treated and disrespected, I am not having any more of it”.

“I am tired of the disrespect and I am going no further with it. So, I have walked away (from the JLP),” he said.

He did not give details of the disrespect.

But the councillor-elect for the Waterloo Division said following a meeting with supporters and party workers last night he is now “committed to resolving internally any issue which might have arisen that led to my earlier sentiment”.

“I have not sent a formal letter withdrawing my membership in the Jamaica Labour Party. I wish to categorically state that I retract any verbal suggestion that I have left my party which I have served faithfully for several decades,” he said in the statement.

Ennis said he was surprised by the leak and disappointed that personal discussions made it into the public domain.

Ennis retained the Waterloo Division in the KSAMC for the JLP in elections, creating a deadlock of 20 divisions each for the two major political parties.

The PNP will select the next mayor of Kingston because it won the popular vote in Kingston and St Andrew.

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