CONSTITUENCY PROFILE: ST ANDREW WEST CENTRAL

Odds on the Labourites
Anthony Myers
Contributor

IN A close contest in St. Andrew West Central, any number could play, but the incumbent JLP MP, Andrew Holness, could just about reach home first in a tight finish.

His opponents are Patrick Roberts for the PNP and Lillian James for the NJA.

In 1959, as a result of an advancement in the Constitution, 45 constituencies were provided for Jamaica, 13 over the 32 that had been fixed from 1944. St. Andrew West Central was among the 13 newly-created constituencies for the July 28, 1959 general election. St. Andrew West Central, which evolved from the former Western St. Andrew constituency, has predominantly been a PNP domain.

Of the nine contested parliamentary general elections during the period 1959-1997, the PNP won seven times to the JLP's two. William Seivright's victories in 1959 and 1962 were decisive; so were the victories of David Coore in 1967 and 1972, and to a greater extent A.J. Nicholson in 1989 and 1993.

There was drama and even more drama surrounding the outcome of the 1997 parliamentary general election in St. Andrew West Central. The JLP candidate by securing a majority of the votes cast was declared the winner. The court upheld a request for voiding of the West Central poll. March 26, 1998 was declared as the date for the retaking of the poll. The PNP candidate was then declared the winner of the March 26, 1998 poll.

A petition was filed to the Constituted Authority by the losing candidate, citing further malpractices at four polling stations and therefore the need for a further retaking of the poll. The request was put forward by the Authority and the four polling divisions ­ Nos. 46, 49, 50 and 73 ­ were voided. The date for the retaking of the poll was set for June 30, 1998, the JLP candidate, young Andrew Holness was once again in Gordon House. It was indeed a very close contest. Can the PNP regain control of a seat it dominated during the period 1959 to 1993? This constituency stands out like a sore thumb as it relates to electoral malpractices. The Electoral Office of Jamaica must act decisively to prevent a recurrence of such fraud in the upcoming general election. In a close contest, any number could play.

GENERAL ELECTION (PARLIAMENTARY) PROJECTION 2002

E/L	21,191
A/B	12,137 (57.3%)
PNP	5,625 (46.3%)
JLP	6,512 (53.7%)
Majority (JLP)	887

GENERAL ELECTIONS (SUMMARY) 1959 - 1997

1959
E/L	27,242
B/C	18,285
A/B	18,189
R/B	96
Ian M. Ramsay, JLP	6,792
W.A. Seivright, PNP	11,397

1962
E/L	29,773
B/C	22,428
A/B	22,336
R/B	92
Millard Johnson, PPP	1,014
W.M. Seivright, PNP	13,508
Maxwell T. Wynter, JLP	7,814

1967
E/L	11,519
B/C	9,466
A/B	9,418
R/B	48
David Coore, PNP	5,163
Una Joyce Hill, JLP	4,255

1972
E/L	12,697
B/C	9,152
A/B	9,102
R/B	50
David Coore, PNP	5,806
Frank Phipps, JLP	2,532
Ainsworth W. Campbell	764

1976
E/L	17,687
B/C	14,610
A/B	14,213
R/B	397
I. Ashman, JLP	5,066
Carl Thompson, PNP	9,147

1980
E/L	20,692
B/C	18,491
A/B	18,316
R/B	175
F. Yap, JLP	10,590
C. Thompson, PNP	7,726

1983
E/L	20,692
Ferdinand Yap, JLP	(elected unopposed by acclamation)

1989
E/L	25,047
B/C	23,787
A/B	23,560
R/B	227
A.J. Nicholson, PNP	13,102
Ferdinand Yap, JLP	10,458

1993
E/L	20,561
B/C	18,071
A/B	17,967
R/B	104
G.M. Bromfield, JLP	6,193
A.J. Nicholson, PNP	11,774

1997
E/L	19,445
B/C	10,688 (55.0%)
A/B	10,618 (99.3%)
R/B	70 ( 0.7%)
Warren Blake, PNP	5,263 (49.6%)
Andrew Holness, JLP	5,328 (50.2%)
Steve Daley, NDM	27 (0.2%)

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