When the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Vasca Brown lost the Hopewell division in the 2007 local government polls, he was devastated.

In fact, the former high-profile mayor of Lucea who won the division in 2003 polls by almost 600 votes could hardly believe that Derrick Foster, a political newcomer, could have created such an upset.

Although Brown had lost by a mere 39 votes, he admitted to this column earlier this week, that the defeat was so crushing he remained in a state of shock and denial for weeks.

Now, almost 15 months after the polls, the former mayor of Lucea says he has carefully analysed the reasons for the defeat and has vowed to make a comeback.

Politics, he says, is in his blood and the loss has taught him a valuable lesson.

“I have learnt a whole lot… how to win and how to lose. and now I am more prepared,” he said confidently.

The win by Foster, who contested on the People’s National Party’s ticket, must have been a wake-up call for Brown, who many in the Hopewell division believe failed to mount a vigorous campaign during the run up to the local government polls.

His opponent, on the other hand, was relentless in his campaign to wrest the division from the clutches of a seemingly confident and complacent Brown.

The former councillor believes that a lack of unity in the JLP’s camp in Eastern Hanover – where the Hopewell division is located – particularly after the incumbent MP, Barrington Gray lost to the PNP’s D K Duncan in the general elections months earlier, as well as a lack of support from the hierarchy of the party played a major role in his failure at the polls.

Additionally, he believes, the need to help his fellow colleague, Albert Chang in the adjoining Chester Castle division and the lack of motivation on the part of the JLP supporters to cast their ballots, after Gray’s loss, also contributed to Foster’s victory.

Although another local government poll is not constitutionally due until late next year, it is important that Brown resumes his political activities in the constituency if he wants to be in the winners’ column next time around.

As I understand it, there still exists hundreds of disgruntled and demotivated Labourities in the division who at this time are disconnected with the party divisional structure.

Apparently there is a lot of work to be done in the division and Brown must now hit the ground running if he intends to win the division in the next local government elections and possibly to once again elevated to the post of the mayor of Lucea.

Otherwise, the former councillor might have to contend with another shocking defeat on the election night.