MONTEGO BAY, St James — THE two major political parties are brimming with confidence of winning the majority of the 16 parliamentary seats being contested in western Jamaica in today’s general election.

Deputy leader in charge of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Area Council Four, Dr Christopher Tufton, told the Observer West yesterday that his party is well prepared for the polls, arguing that it will win the majority of seats in the region, which covers the parishes of Trelawny, St James, Hanover, Westmoreland and St Elizabeth.

“We are very prepared politically. We have excellent candidates and we have done the work on the ground,” he said, adding that his party will do much better than they did in the last general election.

In the 2007 national polls, the JLP won seven of the 15 parliamentary seats in the region.

Since then, a new constituency — Central St James — has been created, thereby increasing the number of constituencies to 16. Some 35 candidates are vying for those seats.

Julian Robinson, the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP’s) deputy general secretary, too has expressed confidence that his party will do very well in the region.

“We expect to do well and to put up a better showing than the last time (2007 general election),” said Robinson.

He believes that the PNP will hold on to the South St James seat — which has been represented by PNP vice- president Derrick Kellier for 22 years — and will pick up more seats in the parish.

With the general elections expected to be close, political observers say the West is crucial for both parties.

In fact, during the campaign affiliate groups of both parties told the Observer West that they have targeted five constituencies in western Jamaica, which they say are “crucial” to win if their respective party is to succeed in forming the next government.

And, JLP leader Andrew Holness and the PNP president Portia Simpson Miller have made several visits across the region in a bid to shore up support for their respective candidates.

Just two days ago, Simpson Miller made a surprise visit to the newly created constituency of Central St James before going on to Central Westmoreland.

Local political observer, Christopher Hylton believes that there will be a keen tussle for a number of seats in the western region.

“The battle for the West is definitely going to be a very close race,” he told the Observer West.

“It could end up in a possible tie but I believe the ruling JLP will win nine of the 16 seats,” he predicted.

He believes that the ruling party will retain the three of the four parliamentary seats it won in the parish of St Elizabeth during the last general election.

The PNP’s Raymond Pryce, he says, should win the North East St Elizabeth seat, while Frankin Witter, who is facing a stiff challenge from PNP councillor Richard Parchment, should hold on to the South East seat.

The other two seats — Tufton in South West and JC Hutchinson in North West- Hylton says, should remain in the winning column for the JLP.

According to Hylton, the PNP should retain all three constituencies — Luther Buchanan in Eastern, Roger Clarke in Central and Wykeham Mc Neil in Western Westmoreland.

In the neighbouring Hanover, Hylton believes that the PNP’s Ian Hayles should retain his seat in the Western constituency, veteran politician DK Duncan should lose to newcomer Paula Kerr-Jarrett, the JLP candidate.

“The parish of St James is very difficult to call but I believe that Kellier will hold on to the South St James seat over the JLP’s Homer Davis and if he does, it is likely that Lloyd B Smith could win in Central St James for the PNP.

There is also expected to be a keen tussle for the West Central seat, where the JLP’s Clive Mullings is facing newcomer Sharon Ffolkes Abrahams of the PNP.

The two seats in Trelawny are expected to be shared evenly among both parties.