The People’s National Party (PNP) has widened its majority in the Manchester Parish Council, according to the Electoral Office of Jamaica’s preliminary count for yesterday’s General Local Government Elections. Holding 11 of the 15 divisional seats for the parish, the PNP has increased its 2007 election majority from 3 seats to 7 seats.

Central Manchester has repeated its haul from 2007 local polls, returning 3 of 4 seats to the PNP. Though marginally losing the Knockpatrick Division to the opposition party, the PNP is pleased that Jones Oliphant has convincingly won the Mandeville Division. Oliphant’s victory has returned the seat to the PNP – it was last held by the PNP in 2003 by Paul Pinto and was held by the JLP’s Sally Porteous thereafter until her resignation in 2011.

Sitting Mayor of Mandeville, and Bellefield Division Councillor Brenda Ramsay,continued her stellar electoral performance as she secured her 4th consecutive term in that seat, tripling her opponent’s tally. Councillor Donovan Mitchell of the Royal Flat Division was victorious as well for the PNP and has increased his margin over his 2007 tally, cementing his standing in the constituency.

In spite of lower-than-expected voter turnout yesterday, Peter Bunting, the constituency’s Member of Parliament and PNP General Secretary said the national swing toward the PNP was clearly represented in Central Manchester.

Below is a summary of the preliminary count for Central Manchester:

Division: Bellefield.
Brenda Ramsay – PNP – 1846 – (75.5%)
Ian Hibbert – JLP – 599 – (24.5%)
Total Votes: 2445
Called for: Peoples National Party

Division: Mandeville.
Jones Oliphant – PNP – 1566 – (57.79%)
Simon Sangster – JLP – 1144 – (42.21%)
Total Votes: 2710
Called for: Peoples National Party

Division: Royal Flat.
Donovan Mitchell – PNP – 2105 – (56.72%)
Lincoln Holloway – JLP – 1606 – (43.28%)
Total Votes: 3711
Called for: Peoples National Party

Division: Knockpatrick.
Cleon Francis – JLP – 2018 – (52.02%)
Goyfield Harrison – PNP – 1861 – (47.98%)
Total Votes: 3879
Called for: Jamaica Labour Party

(Data from eoj.com.jm)