Blind woman happy to touch Golding on campaign stop

Pamella Millard jumped with excitement as she clutched Opposition Leader Mark Golding during a People’s National Party (PNP) campaign tour of Rae Town in Kingston on Thursday afternoon.

The woman, who has been blind for 20 years, said that she has never missed an election, and would never think of voting for any party other than the PNP.

She had spent years listening to Golding’s voice on the radio, but Thursday was her first time “feeling” him, and she held him tight, squeezing him with all her might.

“Me glad fi see him and hear his voice. A the first time me ever touch him. Me always hear him on the radio ‘cause true me blind, me cyah see the TV,” she said. “Me just love PNP. Out of all a me family, me and two sisters, we a PNP, from me have sense. From Manley time, a so me hug up Mr Manley like how me hug up Mark,” she laughed, pride evident in her countenance.

Thursday’s tour started at the Rae Town Fishing Village and featured several divisional representatives contesting the upcoming local government elections. The tour then proceeded to Seaview Gardens and concluded in Duhaney Park in St Andrew.

Droves of orange-clad PNP supporters swarmed the streets of Rae Town, waving flags, blowing vuvuzelas, and warning the Holness administration that “time come!”

The crowd funnelled through tight lanes, at times stepping over raw sewage with the not-so-lucky among them stepping into it as the police kept watch.

During the tour, Golding chit-chatted, bumped fists, and hugged several residents, urging them to turn out for the elections as their votes mattered.

“The 26th [of February] is a vital day for Rae Town. Last time, Rae Town decided how the KSAC (Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation) goes, and by one vote, it went the wrong way. So, you know that we have to take it extra serious. Our people want to see us back in power,” said Golding, rallying the amped gathering.

“So, there is no rum and Boom business on election day. It’s a serious business. I’ve been travelling all over the island and the energy with the PNP is there. Our people are energised and they are prepared to stand up and deal with the matter,” he added.

For a Rae Town resident Ingrid Lachish, there is only one party, having settled in Jamaica from Guyana some 40 years ago.

“From Manley did send some Jamaicans to build the roads in Guyana dem long time there, from there, I just love PNP,” said Lachish.

Lachish lives beside a gully and said it’s been more than a decade since it has been fully cleaned.

“Manley government cleaned the gully, but this government only cleaned a part of it. If I could vote 50 times, I would. I want the PNP to win,” she said.

Shawn McGregor lost the division by one vote in 2016. That bitter defeat has sparked a flame of enthusiasm and service this time around, he said.

“This one-vote defeat seven years ago has really been a catalyst and a fillip in this campaign. I believe the people have understood that every vote counts,” he said. “I don’t want to make the same mistake and so we’re getting a lot of support on the ground, but we have to do the math on the day.

“Elections are won and lost on the day, so it’s all about bringing out the votes on the day. Rae Town needs real representation, and over the last 20 years, there has been none. The sitting councillor hardly lives in Jamaica and the people need somebody who they can wake up and walk to across the road and have a conversation at least,” he said. “I’ll be a councillor with a difference.”

He said that among his focus are income-generating initiatives and education.

On Thursday, crime, sanitation, and sewage were among the major issues highlighted by electorates.

Mickalia Kington