The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) councillor candidate for the Morant Bay division in St Thomas, Winston Downie, has promised he will be "working with the people and for the people" as he was nominated on Wednesday to contest the November 22 by-election. 

Downie emerged from the Coke Methodist Church flanked by several JLP members of parliament following the nomination exercise.

“I'll be working with the people and for the people. The prosperity train will continue. St Thomas parish is not the forgotten parish anymore. It's a parish, it's a new-found land under the leadership of Dr The Most Honourable Andrew Michael Holness,” Downie told The Gleaner.

The councillor candidate also said Holness is a leader with a vision.

A by-election was called last week, months after the death of People's National Party (PNP) councillor Rohan Bryan.

Bryan first won the division for the PNP in 2012. In February's local government polls Bryan defeated Wilbert Walker of the JLP by 423 votes.

The PNP went on to win four seats in the St Thomas Municipal Corporation to the JLPs six.

The Gleaner understands that three candidates are expected to contest the by-election;Yvonne Rose Shaw for the PNP and an independent candidate.

Several party supporters were out in numbers on Wednesday. 

The security forces were also on hand and kept the peace and traffic flowing.

- Andre Williams

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