Portland recount to happen today

A magisterial recount of votes cast in the St. Margaret’s Bay division of West Portland is expected to get underway today after being put off on Tuesday.

When the matter was called-up in court on Tuesday, the candidates, Floyd Patterson of the Jamaica Labour Party, and Vernon Hemmings of the People's National Party were without their attorneys.

As a result, the Resident Magistrate postponed the case until 9 a.m.

Patterson was declared the winner of the division by 15 votes following the March 26 local government elections.

Meanwhile, it’s expected that the JLP team will be seeking to have the matter thrown out.

Patterson is claiming the recount should not take place as Hemmings had not taken the matter to the court within the four-day window prescribed by law.

The PNP controls the Portland Parish Council with five seats to four.

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