By-election announced for St Ann North East, PNP says it won't contest

Prime Minister Andrew Holness this morning announced that a by-election will be held for the St Ann North East constituency on September 30.

Speaking at today's post-Cabinet press briefing, Holness said nomination day will be September 11.

The announcement came a day after Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament Marsha Smith resigned with immediate effect.

The first-term MP's resignation on Tuesday came exactly four years after being elected to represent the constituency.

Holness also said announcements for by-elections for the other vacant constituencies will be done within the coming months.

Meanwhile, the People's National Party (PNP) has confirmed it will not be contesting the upcoming by-election.

In a media release on Wednesday afternoon, PNP President Mark Golding said the party "is preparing for general elections to enable the people to vote in a new government, and will not be contesting by-elections at this late stage in the run-up to the general elections."

Golding also questioned the timing of the by-election, noting that the government is in the fifth and final year of its term of office.

"It (the JLP government) is becoming increasingly unpopular, and recent events show that it is on the ropes," he said.

He described the North East St Ann by-election as a "slap in the face of the electors of Southern Trelawny", who have had no parliamentary representative for a full year.

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