Perspective: St. Thomas Bi-Election Legal

The bi-election to be held April 27 with nomination set for the 10th to rerun the vacant seat in St. Thomas, Yallahs Division is quite legal.  The Chief Justice Hon. Bryan Sykes had ruled that a bi-election should be held at the earliest possible date. This is a court ruling and all concerned are legally, if not morally obliged to honour and respect the ruling of the court.  This is no lower court either, but the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court, and the person who did the ruling is the Chief Justice.

Kangaroo Court

Jamaica has a respected judicial system.  We have been looked upon as having a first class system of justice. We are guided by the rule of law.

Banana

Jamaica has been described in some circles as having certain systems resembling a banana republic …. but never have I heard that Jamaica has a Kangaroo judicial system or simply put a Kangaroo Court.
The JLP is therefore on the right track.

PNP

The people’s National Party has been saying that the bi-election was unlawful.  Ridiculous.  The Chief Justice ruled, … to do otherwise would be to bring the judicial system into disrepute.  Let us get real, please.

PNP Cries Foul

The Regulations of the Municipality, Section 19 mandates that in the case of a vacancy of a mayor, his deputy automatically takes over.  This deputy Mayor must serve for one year to provide stability.  It is this provision that the JLP used to install Mr. Michael Hue as the new chairman and Mayor on the resignation of Clr. Rawle the former Mayor.  The PNP has sent a letter seeking a meeting in which a “No confidence motion” against the former Mayor and his then deputy now Mayor was to be moved. The rules call for this to occur.  The PNP has the votes to prevail.  We will watch to see how the drama unfolds.

No criminal act is being done, attempted, or perpetrated.

Is the PNP confused?

Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior International Correspondent & Photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.