People’s National Party holds contested regional elections in Jamaica

The People’s National Party (PNP) has concluded regional elections in Jamaica, resulting in a decisive victory in Region 5 and a disputed outcome in Region 6.

In Region 5, Mandeville Mayor Donovan Mitchell was elected chairman, securing 207 votes to defeat Mario Mitchell, who received 98 votes. Mario Mitchell, a supporter of party president Mark Golding, had previously faced controversy regarding leaked comments about undermining government recovery programs.

In Region 6, the contest for chairmanship between Jerome Darnells and Senator Allan Bernard ended in a stalemate. While initial reports suggested Darnells won by a single vote (108 to 107), a recount resulted in a tie with both candidates receiving 108 votes. Darnells has accused the process of being rigged and criticized the presiding officer for biased decision-making. Party officials are considering whether to include spoilt ballots in the tally or rerun the election to resolve the deadlock.