The Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Kari Douglas, who switched allegiance from the People’s National Party (PNP), has lost in her bid to return to the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC).

She has been defeated in the Trafalgar Division by the PNP’s Jessie James Clarke by more than 600 votes.

“It’s a very humbling experience and we’re very thankful for all the residents and the persons who came out to support us,” said a smiling Clarke while responding to his decisive victory.

He said he had been in the division for four years and the residents “have become like family”.

“They’re the ones who’re responsible for this victory because they stayed with me over the entire time through thick and thin, we grew together, we did a lot of projects inside the community, although I was just the candidate, and I think the residents appreciated all the projects that we have done so they have rewarded us today with this victory,” Clarke added.

At the same time, the JLP’s Venesha Phillips, who switched allegiance from the PNP to the JLP in November last year, is trailing the PNP’s Darrington Ferguson in the Papine Division with 32 of 44 boxes or 73 per cent of the votes counted so far.