No big screen for Portia’s constituents
THEY came out in their numbers to celebrate their hero – Portia Simpson Miller, the country’s first woman prime minister.
However, several of the scores of residents from Tavares Gardens, DeLacree Park and other communities in Simpson Miller’s South West St Andrew constituency, had to return home to watch her swearing-in on national television as the promise to install a large screen for them to watch the proceedings at the Haile Selassie High School remained a promise, although dozens of chairs were in place for the residents.
The organisers of the event had planned to mount a huge screen on the grounds of the school for persons to watch the ceremony.
It was not clear, however, why the large screen was not set up for the prime minister’s constituents.
However, those who remained behind – both young and old – danced and shouted as the sound system blared theme songs from Simpson Miller’s presidential campaign.
While some senior citizens sat to discuss the years of Michael Manley and P J Patterson, others expressed their support and happiness for their member of parliament who yesterday became the country’s seventh prime minister.
“Women are the majority everywhere, so I knew she was going to become prime minister. She is very loving and she will do well because she have people who love her too and are willing to guide her,” said 76 year-old resident Samuel Brown.
Meanwhile, Dorcas Cain told the Observer that since Simpson Miller became PNP leader there has been a decrease in violence in the volatile and poor South West St Andrew constituency.
“Since she won, we have heard no gunshots in the area. The people are so enthusiastic. Many have said that they will be voting for the first time in the next elections and some are in the process of becoming enumerated,” Cain said.
One resident said she hoped that the decline in violence would continue into the future.
“From she get elected, the violence stop. People get to move more freely now and we hope it will become the normal thing,” she said.
Simpson Miller has been member of parliament for South West St Andrew since 1976.
