Non-stop campaigning for crucial Westmoreland Central seat

WESTERN BUREAU:

There seems to be no letting up by the campaign teams of both the incumbent, Dwayne Vaz of the People’s National Party (PNP), and George Wright of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), in the Frome division in Westmoreland Central, which could be key in deciding which of the two men will emerge victorious at the end of the day.

The JLP is going into the general election with four of the five parish council divisions – Frome, Petersfield, Cornwall Mountain, and Savanna-la-Mar North – in their control, which is fuelling the belief that they could win the seat they last claimed in 1980.

Yvonne Heaven, an indoor worker for the JLP’s candidate, is exuding much confidence based on the results of her canvass in the Frome division and, in particular, her polling division (PD). Heaven said that she is seeing a big swing towards her party, including from traditional non-voters.

“This is a PNP territory, but it’s time for a change and we need that change now,” Heaven told The Gleaner last weekend.

Although Vaz won the division handsomely in the 2016 general election, the JLP rallied strongly in municipal polls nine months later to claim the division, which is one of the factors behind Heaven’s confidence.

“We are carrying it home. Yes, I am confident of that. I now have 185 persons in my polling division who have signalled their intentions to vote for the JLP this time around,” Heaven said of polling division 41, which covers the community of Frome proper, with some 330 voters.

In the November 2016 local government election, the JLP won the Frome division by a margin of 91 votes, polling 1,243 to the PNP’s 1,152.

Elizabeth Reid, the PNP’s cluster manager for the Frome division, agrees with Heaven that the area is PNP territory, but differs with the view that the JLP will retain the division.

“Many people have migrated, and several new people were added to the voter’s list, which could very well see a change in the voting pattern in the area, but it’s nothing to worry about, “ Reid told The Gleaner.

Reid thinks Vaz will have a smooth ride in three of the four PDs under her charge, which should put him in good stead in his win to get back to Gordon House.

“Although the majority of the people living here are loyal to the PNP, we still ensure that our canvassing can stand in this election,” Reid said.

“Comrade Vaz will take the majority of the votes in these polling divisions and retake the Frome division. The PNP is very strong in PD 41 and 43, and that should make up for any fallout in PD 40.”

In the February 2016 general election, Vaz won Westmoreland Central by a margin of 1,079 votes over Wright and independent candidate Torraino Beckford.