Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
Bruce Golding (left), Jamaica Labour Party candidate for West Kingston in yesterday's by-election, pats a youngster while leaving the Denham Town High School polling centre after a brief visit. - Ian Allen/Staff Photographer
JAMAICA LABOUR Party (JLP) leader Bruce Golding yesterday trounced his nearest rival by more than 7,000 votes to win by a landslide the West Kingston by-election, which gives him a seat in the House of Representatives.
There was a 53 per cent voter turnout for the poll, compared with 81 per cent in the 2002 general election in that constituency. Golding polled 8,225 votes; the People's National Party's (PNP) candidate Joseph 'Bunny' Witter, polled 1,079; the National Democratic Movement's (NDM) Michael Elliott's 10, and Independent candidate Ras Astor Black's eight votes.
There are 17,565 eligible voters in West Kingston.
An elated Mr. Golding told The Gleaner last night he expected to be sworn in as Member of Parliament next week and make his budget presentation next Thursday.
"I'm very gratified and grateful to the people of West Kingston," he said, adding that they have demonstrated the strength of the party in the constituency.
HIGHEST VOTER TURNOUT
"They have confirmed my induction not only as a part of the West Kingston family, but head of the West Kingston family," Mr. Golding remarked. He added he was satisfied with the voter turnout.
"I think if you check the record, it's the highest voter turnout in any by-election in the last 30 years," the new West Kingston MP said.
Up to last night a total of 9,322 votes were counted, as two boxes were yet to be tallied. They are to be counted today, an Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) official disclosed last night.
A total of 13,350 electors voted in the 2002 general election in West Kingston, in which former Member of Parliament Edward Seaga received 11, 251 votes, compared to Mr. Witter's 2,099.
Last night, one of the losing candidates, the PNP's Mr. Witter, said he accepted the results.
"The people of West Kingston have spoken," he said. "It was always a JLP stronghold."
Meanwhile, although yesterday's election was fairly peaceful, the poll was slightly marred with the malfunctioning of EOJ computers, scanners and printers.
WAITED LONG HOURS
A number of voters throughout the constituency became incensed after waiting hours for the new system to identify them.
"Ah slackness ah gwaan," said an angry Joseph Hyde who waited impatiently yesterday morning to vote at polling division 135 at Tivoli Gardens High School.
But speaking with The Gleaner last night, Director of Elections Danville Walker disclosed that 94 per cent of the electors were identified yesterday through the 113 computers, scanners, and printers which comprised the electronic identification system.
The other four per cent, he said, were identified manually, and as such he stated he believed the pilot electronic voter identification in West Kingston was very successful.
Last night, both the police and Citizens' Action for Free and Fair Elections (CAFFE) gave nods of approval to the conduct of yesterday's by-election. In due course Mr. Golding is to be sworn in as Opposition Leader, replacing incumbent Dr. Ken Baugh.
