ST ANN, Jamaica — There is a steady flow of voting at the Steer Town Primary School, where the polling stations appear to be the most active among those visited by Observer Online so far in Monday’s by-election in St Ann North East.

Several representatives from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), including Minister of Education Fayval Williams and former mayor of Kingston Delroy Williams were spotted in the area.

Matthew Samuda is looking to retain the seat for the JLP against two opponents, David “Five Pound” Anderson, a former People’s National Party (PNP) caretaker who was nominated as an independent candidate, and the United Independents’ Congress’s Chase Neil.

The by-election was announced following the resignation of Marsha Smith, who endured a turbulent relationship with her supporters over the years.

In an immediate response to the announcement of the by-election, the PNP said it would not contest the polls, which it described as “striking and unprecedented”.

– Akera Davis