Jamaican general election, 2007

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Jamaica
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General elections in Jamaica were held on September 3, 2007. They had originally been scheduled for August 27, 2007 but were delayed due to Hurricane Dean.^[1] The preliminary results indicated a slim victory for the opposition Jamaican Labour Party led by Bruce Golding, which grew by two seats from 31-29 to 33-27 after official recounts. The JLP defeated the People's National Party after eighteen years of unbroken rule. ^[1]

[edit] Results

[discuss] – [edit]
Summary of the 3 September 2007 Jamaican House of Representatives **election results**
Parties	Votes	%	+/–	Seats	+/–
Jamaica Labour Party	405,215	50.14	+2.8	33	+6
People's National Party	402,275	49.77	–1.9	27	–6
National Democratic Movement	540	0.07		0	±0
Independents	207	0.03		0	±0
Jamaica Alliance Movement	3	0.00		0	±0
Imperial Ethiopian World Federation Incorporation Party	0	0.00		0	±0
Jerusalem Bread Foundation	0	0.00		0	±0
Total (turnout 60.40%)	808,240			60
Source: Jamaicaelections.com and Adam Carr

The Supreme Court of Jamaica has unseated Daryl Vaz of the Western Portland constituency because he is a citizen of the United States of America. As per Jamaica's Constitution, it is illegal for a person with allegiance to another country to sit in Jamaica's House of Representatives. The Constitution declares that the person with the next highest vote total in that constituency should be the new Member of Parliament, but the Supreme Court ordered a by-election which will take place within 45 days of the verdict. Daryl Vaz is currently renouncing his United States citizenship. The current make up of the Jamaican parliament is therefore 32 - 27 in favor of the JLP. It has now been brought up that Opposition member Sharon Hay-Webster is also a citizen of the United States as she was born in that country. The ruling JLP has not indicated they will take steps to unseat Hay-Webster. Prime Minister Bruce Golding has since declared that he will call an early election if anyone is allowed to sit in Parliament without winning an election.