Jamaica postpones election due to Hurricane Dean

KINGSTON, Aug 25 (Reuters) Jamaica has postponed a national election originally scheduled for next week until September 3 as it grapples with the clean-up from last Sunday's encounter with Hurricane Dean, authorities said.

Governor General Kenneth Hall announced yesterday the new date, citing damage to infrastructure and rebuilding efforts after the storm, which killed at least 27 people in Mexico, Haiti, Jamaica and other parts of the Caribbean region.

Disaster officials say as many as 300,000 Jamaicans were displaced by Dean, which hammered the south coast of the Caribbean island nation with heavy winds and treacherous surf.

The national election had been scheduled for next Monday The ruling People's National Party is seeking a fifth consecutive five-year term and holds a slim lead over the opposition Jamaica Labour Party, according to opinion polls.

REUTERS AK BST0432