SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — The People’s National Party’s (PNP) Cyril Martin has taken the New Market parish council division in North West St Elizabeth by a single ballot, defeating the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Ernest Hendricks who has represented the division since 1998.

Returning Officer Neville Burke confirmed that at the completion of a recount late yesterday afternoon, Martin had polled 1,086 votes to Hendricks’ 1,085.

Preliminary results following Monday’s parish council election reportedly had Martin ahead by three votes.

“A win is a win,” a jubilant Martin told the Observer by telephone; “I am feeling very good about this.”

Hendricks could not be reached for comment.

With recounts still continuing, the PNP held a nine to six majority in St Elizabeth up to late yesterday. The PNP is hopeful that preliminary results showing the JLP’s Stallyn Brown holding off the challenge of the PNP’s Maureen Thompson in the Santa Cruz Division of NE St Elizabeth will be overturned on recount.

“We are hoping to take 10 divisions in St Elizabeth,” Wentworth Skeffery, chairman of the PNP’s Region Five (St Elizabeth and Manchester) told the Jamaica Observer. The JLP controlled the last St Elizabeth Parish Council by an eight to seven margin.