KINGSTON, Jamaica – Jamaica’s electoral governing body has formally notified three municipal mayors of their legal obligations to address vacant councilor positions in their respective jurisdictions. The Electoral Commission of Jamaica (ECJ) confirmed Monday it had dispatched official correspondence to Kingston Mayor Andrew Swaby, Morant Bay Mayor Louis Chin, and Savanna-la-Mar Mayor Danree Delancy, emphasizing their statutory responsibility to initiate by-election proceedings within mandated timelines.
In its public statement, the ECJ clarified that these communications not only served as reminders of existing legal requirements but also confirmed the Commission’s operational preparedness to administer the necessary by-elections once municipal authorities provide formal notification. The Commission specifically referenced constitutional provisions requiring that such by-elections be conducted within approximately ninety days following the official recording of a vacancy within any electoral division.
The electoral body emphasized that the timeline commencement depends on official notifications from local governance structures. The ECJ’s intervention highlights the ongoing administrative coordination between national electoral authorities and municipal leadership in maintaining democratic representation at local government levels. All three affected municipalities now face impending deadlines to preserve continuous political representation for their constituents.