CONSTITUENCY PROFILE: KINGSTON CENTRAL

A PNP win with reduced majority

KINGSTON CENTRAL was among the 32 constituencies fixed in the Constitution granted to Jamaica in 1944.

The constituency of Kingston Central is bounded by a point on the seacoast opposite to East Street, northerly along the eastern side of East Street to its end at South National Heroes' Circle, along the northern and eastern sides of West National Heroes' Circle to the Kingston and St. Andrew parish boundary North National Heroes Circle (so as to include all of National Heroes' Circle) easterly and southerly along the parish boundary to James Road at the junction of St. James Street Giltress Street.

It then goes westerly along the northern side of Giltress Street to Portland Road, southerly along the western side of Portland Road to Lincoln Road, westerly along the northern side of Lincoln Road to Cumberland Avenue.

From there it goes along the northern side of Cumberland Avenue to Franklin Town Gully, south westerly along the northern side of Franklin Town Gully to Banana Street, westerly along the northern side of Banana Street to Maiden Street, north easterly along an imaginary line to the intersection of Cumberland Avenue and Upper Elleston Road, southerly along the western side of Upper Elleston Road to the intersection of Victoria Avenue and Windward Road, easterly along the western side of Paradise Street to the seacoast, westerly along the seacoast to the starting point.

Of the eight contested parliamentary general elections 1944-1997, the PNP won seven times to the JLP's one. In 1944, Frank A. Pixley (JLP) polled 8,485 votes to defeat by a majority of 4,014, Wills O. Isaacs who polled 4,471 votes. This was the "Bishop's" only defeat as he retired Frank Pixley in the 1949 general election, defeating him by a 3,993 majority. In 1955 Wills Isaacs defeated Ernest Rae by a 2,663 majority. In the 1959 boundaries alignment Central Kingston was divided into East Central and West Central. Wills O. Isaacs continued his winning ways in the new East Central in 1959 and 1962.

When Kingston Central was restored by the Constituencies (Boundaries) Order 1966, which came into operation on January 3, 1967, the kitchen became extremely hot for the "Bishop" and he was advised by his comrades to contest the St. Ann North Eastern seat which he won in 1967 and 1972.

Michael Manley replaced Wills O. Isaacs in Kingston Central for the 1967 general election. In an extremely close contest, he defeated E.K. Powell (JLP), by 43 votes. In 1972 Michael Manley with the "rod of correction" in hand defeated Errol Anderson (JLP), by an increased majority 1,654. With the boundaries adjustment in 1976, the number of constituencies was increased from three to four with the Kingston Central constituency once again divided into East and West.

Finally, in the 1986 constituencies boundaries adjustment, Kingston Central was once again on the map.

In 1989, Ralph Brown (PNP), defeated Olivia 'Babsy' Grange (JLP), by 1,869 votes. In 1993 after Ralph Brown's retirement from the political arena, his replacement Col. Leslie Lloyd defeated Olivia 'Babsy' Grange (JLP), by a 2,375 majority. With the departure of Miss Grange for St. Catherine Central in the 1997 general elections and the replacement of Col. Lloyd, Kingston Central had all new contenders in the 1997 general election. In what was a keen and competitive contest, with the advent of Ronald Thwaites (PNP), Marcia Davis (JLP), and Charles Ganga-Singh (NDM), the ruling PNP won Kingston Central for the seventh consecutive term. The PNP got 6,907 votes, the JLP, 4,643, the NDM, 70, and the Independent candidate, 10.

The upcoming contest will undoubtedly prove even more competitive as the JLP goes all out to wrestle Central Kingston from the PNP. A victory for the JLP in this constituency would put the JLP firmly on its way to securing its sixth term in office (contested elections) having won in 1944, 1949, 1962, 1967 and 1980. Projection 2002 however points to the PNP retaining Kingston Central with a reduced majority.

GENERAL ELECTIONS (PARLIAMENTARY) ­ PROJECTION 2002

2002
E/L	16,660
A/B	13,495 (81.0%)
PNP	7,827 (58.0%)
JLP	5,668 (42.0%)
Majority (PNP)	2,159

GENERAL ELECTIONS (SUMMARY) 1944-1997

1944
E/L	23,200
B/C	14,622
A/B	13,966
R/B	656
Alexander E. Chin, IND.	272
Stennett K. Coombs, Oth. P.	116
Frederick A. Foster, JDP	622
Wills O. Isaacs, PNP	4,471
Frank A. Pixley, JLP	8,485

1949
E/L	23,215
B/C	17,564
A/B	17,370
R/B	194
Wills O. Isaacs, PNP	10,570
Edith Nelson, JLP	223
Frank A. Pixley, JLP	6,577

1955
E/L	18,360
B/C	12,539
A/B	12,417
R/B	122
Wills O. Isaacs, PNP	7,540
Ernest A. Rae, JLP	4,877

1967
E/L	10,208
B/C	8,790
A/B	8,691
R/B	99
Michael Manley, PNP	4,367
E.K. Powell, JLP	4,324

1972
E/L	9,793
B/C	7,680
A/B	7,538
R/B	142
Michael Manley, PNP	4,596
Errol Anderson, JLP	2,942

1989
E/L	16,498
B/C	13,509
A/B	13,385
R/B	124
Ralph Brown, PNP	7,627
Olivia Grange, JLP	5,758

1993
E/L	18,140
B/C	16,061
A/B	15,657
R/B	404
Olivia Grange, JLP	6,641
Leslie Lloyd, PNP	9,016

1997
E/L	15,349
B/C	11,711 (76.3%)
A/B	11,630 (99.3%)
R/B	81 (0.7%)
Ronald G. Thwaites, PNP	6,907 (59.4%)
Christine M. Davis, JLP	4,643 (39.9%)
Charles A.P. Ganga-Singh, NDM	70 (0.6%)
Junior J. Anderson, IND.	10 (0.1%)

NOTE:
E/L:	Electors on List
B/C:	Ballots Cast
A/B:	Accepted Ballots
R/B:	Rejected Ballots