BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth — The People’s National Party (PNP) was moving to heal wounds in St Elizabeth South Western yesterday following a narrow victory by Member of Parliament Hugh Buchanan over businessman Ewan Stephenson in an internal delegate selection.

Buchanan won by 14 votes. Of 281 delegates who voted, 147 supported Buchanan, 133 supported Stephenson and one vote was spoilt. Three hundred and forty six delegates were registered.

Even as there were shouts of acclaim when the results were announced by the PNP’s Deputy General Secretary Julian Robinson, there were shouts of “No Hugo” from supporters of Stephenson.

A sombre Robinson told journalists at Black River Primary School, where the poll took place, that the PNP would have to move fast to bring unity among Comrades if it is to retain the seat which it won by just 13 votes in December 2011.

Back then, Buchanan defeated Chris Tufton of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP). Rising political star Floyd Green is now the candidate and standard-bearer for the JLP in St Elizabeth SW ahead of parliamentary elections which are due late next year but which many analysts say will be called early.

“It is … clear that the delegates are split, if not 50/50, not much more than that, so we have to work together as a party, we have to reach out to the supporters of Mr Stephenson,” said Robinson.

“It is clear he still commands a significant amount of support, and we have to ensure we keep the seat for the People’s National Party,” he added.

When Buchanan arrived at the polling station intending to make a short speech, the extent of the job at hand was made clear to Robinson and other parliamentary colleagues, including Mikael Phillips, new chairman of Region Five (St Elizabeth and Manchester) and Luther Buchanan.

Loud, hostile shouts of “No Hugo! No Hugo!’ from Stephenson’s supporters greeted him. “Hugo, mi done wid you, nah vote fi yu, Floyd Green mi say, Floyd Green, Floyd Green!” one woman shouted, with others joining in support.

In the end, Buchanan, son of the late legendary Donald Buchanan who held the seat for the PNP from 1989 to his retirement in 2007, left the polling centre without addressing the crowd.

He spoke to journalists 300 metres away in front of the PNP constituency office, where the bulk of his supporters were massed.

A relaxed Buchanan argued he would be able to unite Comrades behind him, notwithstanding the immediate hostility from Stephenson’s supporters.

“That has to be done on a one-on-one basis and not in a crowd,” he told journalists when asked how he will approach the job.

“That is how politics is, you have to go to the homes (of Comrades), you sit on the verandah, and who want to cuss yu, cuss yu, and then yu hug them up…,” he said.

He insisted that the proverbial olive branch would always be there for Stephenson and his camp to join the campaign to win the seat for the PNP.

Stephenson told journalists that he, too, was anxious to mend fences and bring unity.

“The thing is I am PNP and I will continue to work with the party to ensure that we are re-elected at the polls whenever the election is called,” he said, immediately after the results were announced.

Mordant Mitchell, councillor for the Black River Division and a lead supporter of Stephenson, was among the first seeking healing. In a short address, he praised Stephenson’s supporters for a “commendable effort”, but argued that the more important battle of retaining the seat for the ruling party was still ahead.

“What is most important, of utmost importance, is that victory must be for the People’s National Party in St Elizabeth South Western,” he said.

As Mitchell handed over the mic there were both cheers for his comments, but also discordant voices shouting anti-Buchanan comments.