Portia's moment

Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer

For the second time in four years, Portia Simpson Miller is expected this Thursday to take the oath to become prime minister of Jamaica.

Simpson Miller, the popular president of the People's National Party (PNP), is tentatively scheduled to be sworn in at King's House in a ceremony set to begin at 4 p.m.

The party's campaign director, Dr Peter Phillips, confirmed yesterday that plans are well under way for the transfer of power to the new administration.

"We are now planning the transition and the swearing in will take place on Thursday," Phillips told The Gleaner.

However, PNP insiders say the swearing-in ceremony hinges on when Governor General Sir Patrick Allen gets certification of the polls from the Electoral Office of Jamaica.

"That (certification of the polls) should be happening in the next couple of days and soon thereafter the swearing in will take place. That's not to say it can't happen this week," one source explained.

Director of Elections Orrette Fisher admitted on the weekend that the recount was taking longer than usual, but blamed this on the close margin of victory in a number of constituencies.

"The candidates and/or their representatives are examining each ballot closely and so the counting is going slower than would normally be the case," Fisher told The Gleaner on Saturday.

The recount started on Friday and was expected to be completed on Saturday. However, Fisher said the process should be completed in all constituencies today.

Simpson Miller is set to take over the reins of government after securing her own mandate in last Thursday's election.

The preliminary results of the election had the PNP winning 41 of the 63 seats in the House of Representatives. The JLP won the remaining 22.

However, when counting was suspended on Saturday, the PNP's Hugh Buchanan was declared the winner of the South West St Elizabeth seat that was held by the JLP's Dr Christopher Tufton.

Simpson Miller was first sworn in as prime minister on March 30, 2006 after she was elected by party delegates to replace P.J. Patterson as president of the PNP.

livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com