Melissa halts Petersfield by-election plans

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Petersfield Division in Westmoreland Central will remain without elected representation for now, as Hurricane Melissa’s Category 5 winds have forced a delay in naming a date for the by-election.

Danree Delancy, chairman of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC) and mayor of Savanna-la-Mar, disclosed that more than 95 per cent of polling stations in the division are unusable owing to extensive infrastructural damage.

“We don’t have any polling stations ready at this time,” Delancy told The Gleaner. “We would have to transport voters to alternative locations much farther than normal, and that could lead to overcrowding and other logistical challenges.”

The seat became vacant after the death of Patrick Forrester, the People’s National Party councillor who was killed in a motor vehicle crash last September. His passing was formally recorded in the minutes of the WMC’s October 2025 general meeting. Under normal circumstances, a by-election would have been called within three months of that date.

Delancy explained that the scale of damage made it impractical to announce a January poll. He said recovery efforts must take precedence, noting that several roadways remain compromised and schools and community centres – traditionally used as polling stations – have sustained varying degrees of damage.

He revealed that he has already had a verbal discussion with Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie, who advised him to submit a formal letter in early January outlining the situation. Further dialogue, including advice from the ministry’s legal team, will be required before a new date can be finalised.

“It is going to require further consultation between the minister and myself to determine a suitable date,” Delancy said, stressing that voter safety and convenience must remain the priority.

Until then, Delancy’s role as chairman is central to managing the process. He ensures that the vacancy is properly recorded, notifies the minister and electoral authorities, and assesses readiness of polling stations. In cases of damage or other obstacles, he coordinates consultations with the ministry and provides guidance on the ground.

ROPA and By-Elections

Section 4(5)(a) of the Eighth Schedule of the Representation of the People Act requires that by-elections for municipal councils be held “a day within three months after the vacancy has been entered into the minutes of the council”.

Ordinarily, this means a by-election should be called promptly following a councillor’s death, resignation, or removal.

However, the law allows for practical adjustments in exceptional circumstances, such as natural disasters, when polling stations are damaged or inaccessible.

Hurricane Melissa’s impact on Westmoreland – damaging roads, schools, and community centres – illustrates why the statutory three-month timeline may be extended to protect voter safety and uphold the integrity of the electoral process.