'I will vote PNP till I die'

Seventy-six-year-old Millicent Wilson is a People's National Party (PNP) loyalist who, despite her ailments, vowed to exercise her democratic right in support of her movement.

Wilson, who is blind in one eye and unable to walk on her own, was spotted at Long Bay in the Manchioneal division of East Portland getting assistance from a niece and friend, as she made her way to a nearby polling station to cast her vote for the party of her choice.

"I will vote PNP till I die," said the elderly woman.

She continued: "I am getting a little quattie (money) every month as pension, and it is because of Michael Manley that I am getting this money. I cannot walk on my own and I am also blind in the left eye. But despite that, I will not stop voting for Manley party until I am dead."

According to the ailing Wilson, she has never given any thought to supporting the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), which she claims is a capitalist-leaning political organisation that serves the interests of the rich.

Wilson noted that it was a sleepless night for her, as she was very anxious for daylight to come, so that she would be able to make her mark beside the head - something she has been doing for more than 50 years.

But despite Wilson's efforts, at the end of last night's count, the JLP's Paul Thompson (1,740) had defeated incumbent Elaine Osbourne (1,124) of the PNP.