WITH general elections expected before yearend, the Observer’s Western Bureau will help you get to know your candidates in this end of the island.

Check this column every Saturday for information about those who are seeking your vote. Who are the candidates and why should you vote for them?

This week meet the Jamaica Labour Party’s Travis Spence.

Name: Travis Spence

Date of Birth: May 17, 1952

Constituency: Western Hanover

Travis Spence was born in Hanover in the district of Green Island. He received his primary education in that community before attending the Dunrobin High School in Kingston. Spence later studied at the University of the West Indies School of Continuing Studies, where he gained certificates in Computer Studies and Business Administration.

He is presently a company director at Universal Brakes and Clutch Limited and a Real Estate developer.

An elder at the Covenant Community church, Spence joined the Jamaica Labour Party in 1994 and soon after he became a member of the Young Leadership Council.

He also served as a member of the party’s Standing Committee and was elected as the JLP’s junior spokesperson on Land and Environment.

In 1997, Spence contested the Western Hanover seat on the JLP’s ticket, but was defeated — by 1,900 votes — by incumbent Ben Clare of the People’s National Party.

Spence, however, is confident that whenever the next general election is called he will win the seat by a margin of more than 500 votes.

He now answers the question: why should I vote for you?

“My main qualification for leadership is grounded in my adherence to the principles and teachings of one of the greatest leaders ever to walk on earth, the man Jesus Christ.

“One of these teachings regarding leadership reminds us that we must first become a servant. So, essentially I am offering to the people of Western Hanover my service in facilitating the realisation of the potential of the constituency.

“My vision for the constituency entails the development of our human resources through education and skills training.

“This would be done mainly by developing the physical attributes of Lucea, which include the existing pier and buildings with architectural significance.

“The establishment of community based small industries is also among my priority list for the constituency. My intention to reopen the Arthur Wint Skills Training Centre in Lucea will be critical to providing skills labour to the hotels and other industries in the area. Housing development, which has been dormant for over 13 years, will also be given priority.

“The JLP’s national policy for the eradication of ignorance, injustice and poverty, facilitated by state-financed education which will make education from basic school to the high school level free of charge, will be essential to our local development programmes.

“I offer to the constituency of Western Hanover leadership by example, character and integrity and most of all, I offer a hope of vision.”