Buff Bay, Portland – Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) deputy treasurer Daryl Vaz yesterday trounced incumbent Kenneth Rowe 175 to 67 votes for the party’s chairmanship of the West Portland constituency and immediately declared that he was ready to win the parish for the Opposition party at the next general election.

“Politics is in my blood, and we have done an analysis of what we need to do to win the next general election,” he said.

“Finally, the right horse has been chosen for West Portland, so I am ready for all comers.”

Vaz, the JLP said yesterday, will have overall responsibility for co-ordination in Portland. He won the election, he said, after working for three weeks in the constituency.

“The support has been overwhelming, and the work begins tomorrow morning,” he said.

Vaz, 42, served as a councillor in the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation from 1986 to 1989 representing the Waterloo Division.

He, along with Port Maria Mayor Robert Montaque, St Mary councillor Don Creary and JLP deputy leader James Robertson were critical to energising JLP leader Bruce Golding’s base, as well as raising money for the financing of his leadership campaign.

Yesterday, Robertson, who attended the selection, said he was happy with Vaz’s victory.

Both he and Vaz advised the Labourites to get enumerated in preparation for general elections.