ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica – A sea of jubilant Comrades are now gathered in Black River, St Elizabeth, for the fifth People’s National Party (PNP) mass rally, as a general election draws near.

People’s National Party Youth Organisation (PNPYO) President Andrae Blair is revving up the campaign engine as he declares that Member of Parliament for South West St Elizabeth Hugh Buchanan will continue as the MP for this rural constituency.

The St Elizabeth native listed a slew of achievements, which he said, were as a result of the PNP. Among them were roadwork and agricultural developments.

“I hear a man say South West St Elizabeth going green – where?” he questioned in reference to the campaign slogan of Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate Floyd Green.

“South West St Elizabeth is PNP country,” he said as flag-bearing Comrades cheered him on.

There has been much speculation and whisper as to whether Buchanan will be able to retain the seat, having won by only 13 votes in the 2011 General Election when he defeated the JLP’s Dr Christopher Tufton.

In September, Buchanan narrowly escaped defeat having to stave off a strong challenge from Ewan Stephenson to continue as the party’s standard-bearer for upcoming parliamentary elections. Buchanan got 147 votes to Stephenson’s 133 votes.

Historically the party to win any general election has always won this seat.

Kimone Francis