Griffith edges out rivals in ‘tough’ St John race

Charles Griffith Wednesday night retained the St John seat after a tense and hard-fought contest that tested his political mettle, acknowledging a tough battle against the Democratic Labour Party’s former leader Ralph Thorne by 451 votes.

He secured 2 327 votes to earn his seat in the House of Assembly. Speaking shortly after Returning Officer Gracia Bolden-Thompson officially announced the results at the St John counting centre, Griffith acknowledged the intensity of the election, describing it as “a tougher one than usual”.

The announcement came early Thursday morning amid cheers and handshakes at the St John polling aggregation site, where supporters gathered under bright lights to hear the final tallies.

Thorne polled 1 876 votes. Another party leader Kemar Stuart of the New National Party received 236 votes from a total ballot of candidates was 4 439, with 18 spoilt votes..”

Griffith’s margin of 451 votes over Thorne underscored the intensity of the race. He later reflected on his stewardship, admitting the fight had shaken his usual confidence but ultimately reaffirmed his support. “I was always confident… the end result is revealing that people are still going with me, still believe that there’s something that I can do to continue moving St John forward.”

About NNP leader Stuart the victorious Griffith said:  “Kemar came into the race, you know, you don’t take anything for granted in politics, so you respect your opponents, and I respected him coming into the game,” he said of Stuart. “I guess he believed he had something to offer in terms of serving the people of St John, so there’s nothing wrong at all in congratulating him for entering the race.”

Addressing both his supporters and those who voted for other candidates he said: “As far as my candidacy, as far as me being a rep for St John, I have always been apolitical, so I don’t see red or blue when it comes to representing my constituency.

“There’s a lot of work to be done in terms of the infrastructure, in terms of sports, and developing my young people, so I will continue to do what is necessary.”

The win capped a night of long counts in St John, a key parish battleground where infrastructure issues and youth development have fuelled debate. Griffith, sports and youth minister in the last administration, expressed humility about his party’s wider vision: “I am happy to be and humbled to be part of a party that is really, really proactive in terms of how we treat to the development of the country as a whole. Hence that is going to read down to my constituency.”

The result in St John sets the stage for upcoming parliamentary proceedings, with newly elected representatives, including Griffith, headed to the opening of the new parliament, set for next Friday.