By Vernon Daley, Staff ReporterLOCAL GOVERNMENT elections which were promised by the end of this month will once again be postponed - the third time since they became due in 2001.
Prime Minister P.J. Patterson told the House of Representatives yesterday that legislation would be brought to the House next week aimed at putting off the elections to a date not later than June 30, 2003.
"I am convinced that such a decision is in the national interest and will command deserving support," the Prime Minister said.
However, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) issued a release yesterday calling on the Government to honour the word given by the Prime Minister to hold the elections by March 31.
Local Government elections, which are held once every three years following the general election, have been hit by several delays over the years.
Mr. Patterson had promised the elections by the end of this month and that the community of Portmore would be granted the right for its residents to directly elect their mayor and administer their own affairs under a new Municipality status.
However, yesterday he argued that the polls had to be delayed for a number of reasons, including the referral of the Munici-palities Act to a joint select committee of Parliament.
The Act, which is crucial to creation of the Portmore Municipality was last week referred to the parliamentary committee after the JLP raised several concerns. That committee is scheduled to have its first sitting today.
In its release, the JLP insisted that the Local Government elections should go ahead within the March timeframe, followed by a separate poll for the Portmore Municipality.
Meanwhile, Mr. Patterson added that there was a need to further delay the polls because other important pieces of legislation, designed to strengthen the electoral system, had not yet been passed by Parliament.
Yesterday, four companion Bills were brought to the House aimed at bringing the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation and the Parish Council Acts in line with the Representation of the People Act, as well as allowing for a pilot project in the elections that would see the electronic identification of voters in Eastern St. Andrew divisions.
"Given the necessity to pass the required legislation, which I expect that we will do with all deliberate speed, and taking into account the operational timeframe, it is no longer possible for the Minister of Local Government to advise the Governor-General of Local Government elections to take place on a date within the Month of March 2003," the Prime Minister said.
Reacting to Mr. Patterson's announcement, Opposition Leader Edward Seaga suggested that it would be more sensible to push back the elections by about two weeks in order to get them out of the way before Easter holidays in April.
This was rebuffed by Mr. Patterson, who pointed out that this would have implications for the Budget debate which is scheduled for April 17 to 30.
