Member of Parliament, MP, for West Central St. Catherine, the JLP’s Dr. Christopher Tufton, says there’s tangible evidence that there was ballot tampering in the Ginger Ridge Division in last Monday’s local government elections.
He made the claim while speaking on Nationwide at Five on Thursday.
Chevon Campbell reports.
The JLP had sought the recount after Jeremiah Edwards lost to the PNP’s Ralston Wilson by eight votes.
The party retained the division, once considered a JLP stronghold, for the third consecutive time following last Monday’s polls. But following Wednesday’s magisterial recount, the JLP will be filing an election petition.
According to Dr. Tufton, this is because several rejected ballots noted by the JLP’s legal team during the final count showed clear signs of tampering when they were later reviewed during the magisterial recount.
Dr. Tufton went further, saying that there were breaches in securing the ballots in the wake of the final count.
He claims that these breaches clearly undermine the will of the electorate in Ginger Ridge.
Meanwhile, Dr. Tufton, who is also the constituency chairman for West Central St. Catherine, is questioning the integrity of the recount process.
He told Chevon Campbell on Nationwide at Five that the loopholes in the process warrant at least the consideration of a by-election in the Ginger Ridge Division.
Dr. Tufton adds that the events have shaken his confidence in the Electoral Office of Jamaica offices in his constituency.
Dr. Christopher Tufton, MP for West Central St. Catherine.