#JaVotes2020 | Low turnout in St Thomas
Published:Thursday | September 3, 2020 | 4:24 PM
Shanna Monteith, Gleaner Writer
Preliminary checks made at the polls in St Thomas Eastern have revealed a considerably low voter turnout, at least four hours before the closure.
According to reports given by an executive member of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), up to 1 p.m, a tally of some 3,000 people had shown up to cast their vote in the constituency.
This, he credited, to fears associated with the coronavirus, bad weather conditions, and what he described as a general disinterest among the people.
"There's a genuine lack of enthusiasm of persons in the parish, maybe because they are fed up with what they see as underdevelopment in the parish over the years, so it's going to be interesting," he said.
The JLP officer shared that the exit polls at that time, based on feedback from the various indoor agents, showed that his candidate Dr Michelle Charles was leading the self-styled six-star general Dr Fenton Ferguson of the People's National Party (PNP) by over 400 votes.
Sharing that the JLP is cautiously optimistic that Charles will overthrow Ferguson, he said that the party is continuing to rally up voters by 'spreading the news of hope'.
According to him, "There has been some commitment made and we have seen some developments. The road work has begun and we heard that because of COVID-19 the June deadline for the urban development centre [in Morant Bay] has been pushed back a little, but the financing has been agreed on. It's just to let the voters know that."
Meantime, with one hour left until the polls close, incumbent for St Thomas Western, James Robertson, told The Gleaner that he is on the road connecting with his voters.
Robertson, who is up against the PNP's Marsha Francis, admitted that though the rain prevented many person from coming out, he remains confident that he will regain the seat that he has dominated for the last 18 years.
St Thomas Western
2020
PNP - Marsha Francis
JLP - James Robertson
2016
PNP - Marsha Francis - 9,154
JLP - James Robertson - 9,568
St Thomas Eastern
2020
PNP - Dr Fenton Ferguson
JLP - Dr Michelle Charles
2016
PNP - Fenton Ferguson - 8,881
JLP - Delano Seiveright - 7,220