The People's National Party yesterday made a triumphant return to the helm of local government winning 12 of the 13 local authorities.

The PNP won 11 of the 12 parish councils as well as the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC).

In yesterday's election, two independent candidates - Harold Crooks in the Riverside division of West Hanover and Paul Patmore in Lorrimers division in South Trelawny.

Patmore polled 1,526 votes to the JLP's Steve Warren 908 and Kevin Guy (356) of the PNP.

Crooks, former mayor of Lucea, won the Riverside division. He polled 1,216 votes to the JLP's Albert Lee 770 votes. The PNP did not field a candidate.

Over in Portmore, George Lee of the PNP returned to the post of Portmore mayor defeating incumbent Keith Hinds in the Portmore municipality, which directly elects its mayor.

Lee polled 5,940 votes to Hinds' 2,850, with independent candidate Alrick Davis receiving 92 votes.

It was the second win for Lee, who lost in 2007 to Hinds.

The win for the PNP adds to the general election success achieved in the December 29, 2011 polls. Then, the PNP won 42 seats to the JLP's 21 in the 63-seat House of Representatives.

The JLP won all but four parish councils in 2007 - Manchester, Westmoreland, Hanover and St Ann.

Less than 30 per cent of the people voted in yesterday's election and a few of the seats were determined by fewer than a dozen votes.

A JLP supporter rides his bicycle to the polling station at the Denham Town High School yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn