#JaVotes2020 | 'PNP until I die!' - Party supporter defiant despite losing record in PM's constituency
Published:Thursday | September 3, 2020 | 5:24 PM
Jovan Johnson/Senior Staff Reporter
"Di Labourites dem hungry!" was the response of Jennifer Clarke, a People's National Party (PNP) supporter, on the low energy among her colleague Comrades, gathered at the party's constituency office in St Andrew West Central.
"The labourite dem dung deh so have energy cause dem a get free food. We buy we own tings," said the 40 year-old, pointing further down Olympic Way, where dozens of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters were having a massive street party.
The PNP's Patrick Roberts is, for the fifth time, seeking to unseat the JLP leader, Andrew Holness as Member of Parliament.
However, Clarke said she was not daunted by the highly-unlikely prospect of her candidate overcoming the 2,064 margin Holness won by in 2016.
"A him mi seh straight, win lose or draw," she told The Gleaner. "Me a born PNP; me a born socialist. All when me dead, socialist me seh."
Navada Jarrett, 39, another supporter, said while Roberts has ended up in the losing column in all his tries, he has remained with constituents and helped where he could.
"He's a man who's always working in the community. We have to give him strength because we only see Andrew Holness every four years," he said, as Roberts entered the office compound after casting his vote.
Roberts, a councillor in the constituency, said he continues to seek parliamentary representation because of the peoples' wishes.
"Once the people ask me to serve and represent, then I will always glady do so," he said, explaining that the congregation of the labourites was because of the several polling divisions located in the vicinity of the Olympic Gardens Civic Centre where Holness' office is.
Does he expect to lose, Roberts declared. "I'm always a winner. Whatever happens, I'm a winner."
Outside the office, several men were seen playing a game of dominoes with at least three observed not wearing their masks to protect against the coronavirus.