EOJ to address PNP complaint regarding polling division relocation in St Catherine South Central

The Electoral Office of Jamaica (EOJ) is to discuss, at a meeting scheduled for this afternoon, a formal complaint lodged by People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for St Catherine South Central, Kurt Matthews, regarding the relocation of the polling station for seven polling divisions in the constituency.

In a letter to the EOJ, which was also copied to PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell — the party’s representative on the Electoral Commission of Jamaica — Matthews objected strongly to what he described as an “unnotified and politically biased” change.

According to Matthews, an entire cluster of seven polling divisions, representing more than 1,000 voters, was suddenly shifted from St John’s Primary School to St Catherine High School without prior notice to him. He emphasised that the divisions affected cover communities along St John’s Road, which he described as a traditional PNP stronghold.

“The intent is retrograde, risky, and politically biased, intended to suppress votes,” Matthews charged in his complaint.

He added that the move raises safety concerns, recalling past incidents of violence involving voters from the affected cluster. He said this history was the reason the polling divisions were originally established at St John’s Primary School.

Matthews stressed that fear among voters about having to cast their ballots at St Catherine High School is “palpable”, warning that the relocation could discourage participation.

When contacted, Director of Elections Glasspole Brown confirmed receiving the letter of protest but declined to comment further. He said the matter is on the agenda for a meeting scheduled for later today.

- Ruddy Mathison

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