Some Comrades convinced Vybz Kartel can attract voters to the PNP

People's National Party (PNP) supporters are banking on Vybz Kartel's influence to attract the younger demographic to the party.

The dancehall artiste, whose given name is Adidja Palmer, took to the stage at the PNP's 86th annual conference earlier today, much to the delight of the crowd inside the National Arena, whose screams were deafening in response.

Kartel sported an orange mask, similar to the one he donned when he walked out of the Tower Street Adult Correctional facility on July 31, after he was freed by the Court of Appeal of a murder charge after 13 years.

But despite Kartel's storied past, Sonny Spoon, a 55-year-old supporter from Waterford, St Catherine, believes Palmer's presence at the conference was an asset to the party.

“Who was undecided, him showing up at the conference today wi mek a big difference, ya aguh get most a di mid 20s (being influenced)," he told The Gleaner.

He asserted that Vybz Kartel's influence transcends political party barriers.

Twenty-eight-year-old, Zella, from Red Hills Road, Kingston, was of a similar view.

“Mi seh people aguh come out more, nothing more, nothing less,” she said.

But Tony Young, a 57-year-old supporter from the Cassia Park division, believes the PNP took a gamble in bringing Palmer on stage. 

Nonetheless, he is hoping the risk will pay off.

“It all depends on how you view him as an individual,” he said.

A 64-year-old supporter from South Manchester, believes the PNP should take it a step further and make Palmer the standard bearer for a constituency.

“Him would win it, him nah lose,” she said 

She further stated that she is not concerned about his history as the courts have vindicated him.

“Him out ya now, even if him did guilty him get forgiveness. God mek him out ya now,” she said.

Meanwhile, councillor for the Bellefield Division in Manchester, Mario Mitchell, says the entertainer's appearance will go down in history.

“Many many years have passed since we have seen this kind of crowd and this sort of enthusiasm from the young people and the Comrades have now arised from their slumber,” he said.

“The young people have always played an integral role and many of the young people would have been the movers and shakers. The young persons would dictate exactly how it goes so, the young people have a saying dem seh 'yuh haffi go dung', and Vybz Kartel was just the icing on the cake,” he added.

-Sashana Small

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