People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for West Central St Andrew, Paul Buchanan—who went up against Prime Minister Andrew Holness in Wednesday’s general election and lost—is calling for an inquiry into the result.

Buchanan was on his way to a major upset, but a late surge by the incumbent Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) MP overhauled his lead, and the momentum turned in Holness’ favour, with him coming out victorious with an over 2,000-vote majority.

Some in the PNP high command are crying foul, pointing to a two-hour delay in counting the votes. Others go so far as to claim that ECJ officials were in on the chicanery and facilitated the Holness victory.

This is unsubstantiated. 

Paul Buchanan is alleging there were irregularities and that the final result, with Andrew Holness winning with 7,054 votes to Paul Buchanan’s 4,953, is inexplicable given that the last 18 boxes saw all the votes there going to Holness.

The PNP constituency candidate does not countenance the possibility of a late surge to the prime minister, and that a certain part of a division decided to support the incumbent.

“This constituency has 13,400 voters and never before has the Molynes Division recorded the numbers we were seeing in any general election. 

“There were some boxes in Seaward Drive that went to the polling station long after, despite the fact it was just 300 yards or metres away between Seaward [Primary & Infant] School and the counting centre.

“When my attorney asked for an explanation, they said the person responsible was off sick. We will have trouble looking into that.”

The PNP is demanding a recount and an investigation into the result. Paul Buchanan has yet to lodge an official complaint. 

With 87 out of 105 boxes counted, Paul Buchanan had 50.5 per cent of the votes with 4,867 votes, with Holness at 49.5 per cent with 4,762 votes.

The remaining boxes saw the prime minister come storming back to take the day.

The JLP strongly refutes Paul Buchanan and the PNP’s claims.