Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer

OCHO RIOS, St. Ann:

In an unprecedented move in the history of politics in St. Ann, a returning officer yesterday had to use his casting ballot to break a deadlock of votes between two opposing political parties.

People's National Party (PNP) councillor for the Brown's Town division, Ivan Anderson, was installed as mayor of St. Ann's Bay after defeating outgoing mayor Delroy Giscombe, of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), by a margin of nine votes to eight in the 16-member parish council. The additional vote came from senior returning officer for St. Ann, the Rev. Lenworth Sterling.

Since winning eight seats each in the December 5 local government election, and with the official result giving the PNP an overall majority in the popular votes in the parish, both the JLP and the PNP had been at odds over who should hold the posts of mayor and deputy mayor.

Even when Rev. Sterling, who presided over yesterday's ceremony, called for the nomination for the post of mayor, both parties were in disagreement. It was JLP councillor Sydney Stewart who first rose from his seat and nominated former mayor, Delroy Giscombe, for the post.

With the nomination seconded by his JLP colleagues, PNP Councillor Winston Brown then nominated Councillor Anderson.

The 16 councillors voted by way of secret ballots for the mayor. The result was another tied vote at eight each.

Going with the majority

Quoting from a chapter of the Representation of the People Act, Rev. Sterling said the act gave him the casting vote. He said since the majority of the people of St. Ann had voted for the PNP, he was going along with the majority. He then cast his vote for Councillor Anderson and declared him the winner by nine votes to eight.

New Deputy Mayor, Vinnette Robb, the PNP councillor for the Calderwood division, was the sole nominee for that position.

In his acceptance speech, Mayor Anderson said he would be giving priority to road improvement across the parish and would also ensure greater efficiency in the services offered by the council.

Former Mayor Giscombe, in congratulating his successor, expressed a willingness to work with him and to assist where necessary.