Barbara Gayle, Staff Reporter

The recount of ballots cast in the Mavis Bank Division of the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation is now underway, after Resident Magistrate Llyle Armstrong ruled this morning that the matter should proceed.

The motion for a recount was filed by People's National Party candidate Esther Warner-Dixon.

However, the lawyer for the Jamaica Labour Party candidate Alexander Williams made submissions objecting to the motion.

Williams, who is representing Alvin Francis, argued that the motion should be thrown out because it was not filed within the time stipulated by law.

However this morning Warner-Dixon’s lawyer, Patrick Peterkin, successfully argued that it was not too late for a recount.

The magistrate then ruled in favour of a recount.

Warner-Dixon lost the seat by six votes following the counting of ballots from the March 26 local government elections.

Francis polled 1,132 votes while Warner -Dixon polled 1,126.

radio@gleanerjm.com