KINGSTON, Jamaica – Less than 24 hours after the incumbent Marsha Smith announced her resignation with immediate effect, Prime Minister Andrew Holness Wednesday announced that a by-election will be held in the North East St Ann constituency at the end of the month.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness announcing date for by-election during post cabinet news conference (CMC Photo)“Today I am announcing that a by election will be held in the constituency North East St Ann. The Nomination day will be September 11, 2024 and the by-election day will be September 30, 2024,“ Holness said
On Tuesday, Holness had thanked the outgoing Minister of State in the Ministry of Education and Youth for her service in representational politics.
“At a later stage I will announce a new appointment for Marsha who has excellent skills and experience in industrial relations,” Holness told reporters.
Speaking at the weekly post Cabinet news conference, Prime Minister Holness said that the Government Senator and Minister without portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Matthew Samuda, has resigned from both posts to facilitate his nomination as the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) candidate for the constituency.
Smith had defeated Keith Brown of the main opposition People’s National Party (PNP) by 4,442 votes, polling 9,169 to her opponent’s 4,747 in the 2020 general election
The constituency is regarded as a safe one for the ruling Jamaica Labur Party (JLP), with Shahine Robinson representing the constituency for the past two decades, before she was succeeded by Smith.
Holness also said announcements for by-elections for the other vacant constituencies will be done within the coming months.
The Trelawny Southern seat has been vacant since last September following the resignation of the JLP’s Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert and the government will also face a by-ele, who is leaving his ministerial post to accept the position of deputy managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The JLP controls 48 out of the 63 seats in the Parliament.
