Young Jamaica, the youth arm of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), is urging the Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) and its commissioners to intercede in what it describes as an attempt by the People’s National Party (PNP) to undermine the Local Governance Act and the Order of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation.

This call follows the abrupt end of the Clarendon Municipal Corporation’s sitting on Thursday, 12 December, after PNP councillors called for the resignation of Mayor Joel Williams.

The PNP is pushing for a mayor from their side to be installed, following the current tie between the PNP and the JLP in the Clarendon Municipal Corporation, after the re-election of PNP Councillor Delroy Dawson, who won the Aenon Town division in the recent by-election.

Young Jamaica noted that Opposition Leader Mark Golding, an attorney-at-law, and the PNP General Secretary, who holds a law degree and sits as a Commissioner of the ECJ, have both set a troubling precedent by encouraging partisan and targeted attacks calling for the ousting of the mayor.

“We have also taken note of the silence from several civil society groups in what can only be described as an attempt to usurp the Clarendon Municipal Corporation by the PNP, and a blatant attack on Jamaica’s democracy,” Young Jamaica stated.

They are now encouraging the ECJ, its commissioners, and all well-thinking Jamaicans to reject the current call by the PNP, which they describe as an attempt to stir political unrest in clear contradiction of existing legislation.

“The Local Governance Act was passed by the previous PNP Administration, and one hopes that its learned members will step forward and advise their colleagues against further disruption of the people’s business. Should the opposition be convinced of their position, then it is their prerogative to challenge the matter in the courts, rather than continue with wanton attacks on good governance and democracy,” Young Jamaica concluded.