No time for ‘malice’

WESTERN BUREAU

Opposition Leader Mark Golding is urging People’s National Party (PNP) supporters in Westmoreland to avoid abstaining from voting for the party because they might not immediately like a candidate on offer.

In the 2020 General Election, Westmoreland, which the PNP previously controlled by a 3-0 margin and which was considered safe PNP territory, was swept by the JLP. Daniel Lawrence unseated Luther Buchanan in Westmoreland Eastern, George Wright brushed aside Dwayne Vaz in Westmoreland Central, and newcomer Morland Wilson upstaged party stalwart Dr Wykeham McNeill in Westmoreland Western.

However, buoyed by the party’s success in the recent local government elections, in which they won 11 of the 14 divisions, Golding is confident that the PNP is now poised to flip the script with the party’s general secretary, Dr Dayton Campbell, looking to reclaim Westmoreland Eastern from Lawrence; Vaz itching to get back the Westmoreland Central seat; and Ian Hayles, who has replaced McNeill in Westmoreland Western, looking to defeat Wilson.

Golding, who is president of the PNP, warned that now is not the time for Comrades to be “keeping malice” with each other over past deeds, but instead, they should seek to continue building on the good fortunes of the February 26 Local Government Elections.

“I don’t want any grudge-holding, any belly-keeping about anything in the past. We have to put down those negative vibes right now,” Golding told Comrades who were in attendance for the Cornwall Mountain divisional conference, held at Coke’s View Primary School in the parish.

He said it was important for constituents to pull together and focus on the bigger picture of ensuring that they have a party and a government that is able to restore the futures of their families, community, constituency, and the country.

“Please, Comrades, I am asking you from the bottom of my heart, let’s pull together and support your candidate, Comrade Dwayne Vaz,” the PNP president pleaded while pointing out that it was crucial that all delegates, voters, and supporters play their role ahead of the next general election.

He noted that Vaz, who is the constituency caretaker for Central Westmoreland, had already had a taste of parliamentary life but was not able to do much from the opposition benches at the time.

However, Golding noted that if the PNP forms the next government, Central Westmoreland would have better representation under his leadership, with Vaz at the helm of the constituency as member of parliament.

“He has done it before, and he can do it again. Come back and rally behind him, mi a beg unuh. We want this thing. A fi wi territory,” Golding said of Vaz and the Central Westmoreland constituency.

According to the latest Don Anderson opinion poll, the PNP, for the first time in recent years, has found itself with a notable lead over the governing JLP.

The national survey, which captured voter intent, showed that 36.8 per cent of respondents indicated that were a general election to be held shortly, they would vote for the PNP, versus 29 per cent who said they would vote for the JLP.

Some 19.1 per cent of respondents remain undecided, while 15 per cent have indicated that they will not vote, according to the findings of the poll conducted by Anderson’s Market Research Services Limited between April 4 and April 12 among persons 18 years and older who are eligible to vote.

The survey, which was commissioned by the PNP, has a margin of error of plus or minus three per cent. A total of 1,057 persons participated.

editorial@gleanerjm.com