Clarendon municipal leadership set to change hands as councillor switches from JLP to PNP

The political balance in the Clarendon Municipal Corporation could be dramatically reshaped with Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Councillor Tanya-Lee Williams crossing the floor to join the People’s National Party (PNP), which would give the Opposition party a clear majority in the 22-member municipal body.

Williams, who represents the May Pen North division, made the move during Thursday’s sitting of the corporation, further intensifying an already contentious power struggle over the leadership and control of the municipal body.

Her switch means the PNP now holds 12 seats to the JLP’s 10, breaking an 11–11 deadlock that had left the corporation evenly divided.

The tie emerged following the death of JLP Councillor Marjorie McLeod-McFarlane, who represented the Aenon Town division.

Her death triggered a by-election, which was won by PNP candidate Delroy Dawson, allowing him to reclaim the division he had lost to McLeod-McFarlane in the February 2024 local government elections.

Prior to that development, the JLP held a 12–10 majority in the corporation.

The political landscape had also been altered by the earlier switch of then-JLP Councillor Romaine Morris, who represents the Mocho division in Clarendon North Central.

Morris crossed the floor to the PNP and subsequently retained his seat as a PNP candidate in the February 2024 local government elections.

Williams’ latest move would give the PNP the numerical advantage and place the party in a stronger position to influence the corporation’s leadership, decision-making and governance.

- Olivia Brown

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