KINGSTON, Jamaica – Just over 500 delegates are expected to vote today to select a People’s National Party candidate in East Rural St Andrew for the next general election, as first-time Member of Parliament Damion Crawford is being challenged by businessman Peter Blake.

Crawford, whose supporters are visible at the PNP headquarters on Old Hope Road in St Andrew where the selection exercise is now under way, told OBSERVER ONLINE he is confident of victory.

He said Sunday that he has the numbers to secure victory.

One of Crawford’s supporters said he is backing the incumbent MP because he believes in education and he does not believe in giving handouts in order to garner support.

Blake’s supporters are not as visible at the PNP’s headquarters but are instead being shuttled to the location from Mona to cast their votes, before being transported back.

Blake also told OBSERVER ONLINE that he is confident of victory and is only awaiting the results.

One delegate said he is supporting Blake because he is the one that has been visible in the constituency and the one that supports community activities.

Meanwhile, PNP General Secretary Paul Burke said voting began at 10:00 am and should be finished at 4:30 pm.

The discontent within the constituency emerged after Crawford announced that he would not be seeking re-election before making an about-turn, saying that his earlier announcement was a trick.

In the December 2011 General Election Crawford polled 9,634 to defeat the Jamaica Labour Party’s Joan Gordon-Webley (9,375).

Kimone Francis