(Jamaica Observer) Dr Christopher Tufton lost his St Elizabeth South West seat by 13 votes to the People’s National Party’s (PNP’s) Hugh Buchanan in the recount completed yesterday by electoral officials.
Tufton, who confirmed the final result to the Sunday Observer last night, said the vote count was being reviewed by his attorney.
It was not immediately clear whether Tufton would seek a Magisterial Recount of the ballots.
The new result increased the PNP’s seat count from last Thursday’s general election to 42 and reduces the JLP’s to 21.
Preliminary results from the election had shown Tufton winning the seat with 9,426 votes to Buchanan’s 9,325.
Last night Buchanan was ecstatic. “The feeling is one of jubilation. I am so excited and words can’t explain how we all feel as a team,” he told the Sunday Observer.
“I am happy for the people who had had enough of the former MP over the last four years. I want to thank my manager Kern Smalling, my mother and campaign director Dorothy Buchanan, KD Knight and prime minister-designate Portia Simpson Miller who gave the people the inspiration to come out and support the party.”
The close contest in the seat surprised many Jamaicans, even as it emerged Thursday night that the PNP was benefiting from a national swing.
Tufton impressed as the minister of agriculture after the JLP came to office in September 2007, transforming the sector with the introduction of a number of initiatives that placed it at the forefront of national attention.
He was transferred to the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce by then Prime Minister Bruce Golding in a Cabinet shuffle in June 2011. Just before the general election, he announced the investment by Convergys in the creation of a call centre in Montego Bay that will create 1,000 jobs later this year.
Convergys, which employs 70, 000 persons globally, is a leader in integrated billing and customer care services provided through outsourcing or licensing.
Last night, Tufton admitted that his ministerial responsibilities played a role in keeping him away from his constituency too often, resulting in voter dissatisfaction.
