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Prime Minister, Dr. Andrew Holness, announces new cabinet appointments while addressing today’s (October 30) post-cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House. (Yhomo Hutchinson/JIS)
Prime Minister Andrew Holness has announced Friday, November 22 as the date for two by-elections in North West St. Andrew and South Trelawny.
Nomination day will be Wednesday, November 6.
The announcement was made on Wednesday during the weekly post-cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House.
Daina Davy reports.
A by-election in North West St. Andrew has been occasioned by the resignation and departure of outgoing member of parliament, MP, and finance minister, Dr. Nigel Clarke.
Dr. Clarke bid farewell in Parliament on Tuesday and left the island the same day to take up his new post as deputy managing director at the International Monetary Fund.
Councillor for the Chancery Hall Division, Duane Smith is the Jamaica Labour Party, JLP’s, presumptive candidate in North West St. Andrew.
In South Trelawny, the by-election is due to the resignation of the constituency’s veteran MP, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert .
Dalrymple-Philibert, the former House Speaker, stepped aside last September following a report from the Integrity Commission that recommended that charges be laid against her for making false declarations about her ownership of a motor vehicle.
That matter is still before the courts.
Prime Minister Holness, in announcing the two by-elections, encouraged eligible voters to go out on the day and exercise their franchise.
Holness says in listening to the desires of the people, Dalrymple-Philibert will return as the JLP’s presumptive candidate in South Trelawny.
According to Prime Minister Holness, he believes Mrs. Dalrymple-Philibert’s willingness to return to representational politics was inspired by her constituents.
Meanwhile, local government by-elections are also set for Friday, November 22.
They are for the Morant Bay and Aenon Town divisions.
They were made vacant following the passing of Councillor Rohan Bryan in Morant Bay, St. Thomas and Councillor Marjorie McLeod-McFarlane in Aenon Town, Clarendon.
Local government minister, Desmond McKenzie, made the announcement at the post-cabinet media briefing.
Desmond McKenzie, local government minister.
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