THE buzzwords yesterday in St Andrew West Rural were ‘shower’ and ‘power’ but the numbers that turned out to vote for their next member of parliament on either side of the political divide did not indicate a shower of support nor a powerful foothold.

Though the numbers seen weren’t significant until late afternoon, from as early as 6:30 am the young and old were seen making their way to the various polling stations in the Stony Hill, Brandon Hill, Lawrence Tavern and Red Hills divisions that make up the constituency to squarely place the ‘X’ beside the candidate of their choice — the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn or the People’s National Party (PNP) incumbent Paul Buchanan.

Eventually Cuthbert-Flynn, a Jamaican Olympian, came out victorious, taking 9,742 of the 17,259 votes cast, giving her a 2,225 edge over Buchanan — a much larger margin than the 237 votes he won with in 2011.

But, even as the first votes were cast at approximately five minutes after the polling stations opened at 7:00 am, the proceedings of the day were slow, causing both candidates to express disappointment in the voter turnout.

“Stony Hill is on fire, the councillor can’t keep up, but there’s been a 30 per cent turn out for the JLP in Lawrence Tavern and that’s not good,” Cuthbert-Flynn said early Thursday.

Said Buchanan: “The proceedings have been slow and it is a bit disappointing but our voters are turning out in droves and we expect to see more in the evening.”

As of 11:00 am the election centre reported that for West Rural St Andrew there was a 16 per cent voter turnout, meaning 6,105 people of the 36, 870 electors eligible to vote in the constituency turned out.

None of the parties could claim political dominance in St Andrew West Rural as the seat has swung from one party to another over time. But, from the late 1970s to 1983 the JLP held the seat until the following election where the PNP secured wins up to 1997.

However, from 2002 to 2007 the JLP again held the seat until the 2011 election where Buchanan edged Andrew Gallimore by 237 votes.

At various points on election day, the atmosphere depicted that of a carnival celebration as women clad in various forms of fashion jumped, danced and paraded blowing their vuvuzelas with their fists in the air or their two fingers pointed to indicate their party allegiance.

Athough Inspector Barrington Barnes from the Community Safety and Security Branch declared the proceedings peaceful in the West Rural St Andrew constituency, there were claims of political intimidation in the Red Hills Division.

“I have heard that there are men in masks in the Red Hills division but I won’t let it deter me. I feel OK and when I walk in West Rural St Andrew I feel more of a JLP presence than PNP,” Cuthbert-Flynn said.

Buchanan, however, maintained that his campaign has been a peaceful one, void of intimidation.

“No seat is that important that we need to intimidate anyone. It’s going to be a hard fight but I can say we’ll be victorious,” he said.

There were also claims of bribery taking place by JLP supporters, but the accusations were rubbished.

“Labourite supporters were seen paying $5,000 bills to PNP supporters to have them vote against Mr Buchanan, and it ended up in a fight taking place in Golden Spring,” one outdoor agent alleged.

Cuthbert-Flynn said instead of wasting money on people she termed loyalists, she would put it to better use.

“The PNP people don’t switch. They would just pocket the money and laugh at us. I don’t have that money to pay anyone. I would take that money and pay for my vehicles, gas and food. That is furthest from the truth and I discredit it,” she said.

Supporters from either side did not hold back on their expressions of loyalty and vividly stated why they supported either side.

“Mr Buchanan fix the road. We have highway up a Red Hills, we have water, we have an IT (Information Technology) lab. You no see how we fat? Christmas we get grocery. Him generous and him help both Labourite and PNP. He looks out for us and send us to school. IT lab — up! Road — up! Water supply — up!” Carona Thomas, a PNP supporter said.

“Do we look like losers? No we’re not! No losing — no if, nor but, nor maybe,” said Carlene ‘Wire Wire’ Williams — an avid JLP supporter responding in an obvious banter to PNP Party Leader Portia Simpson Miller during a television interview on Thursday. “We want to eat oxtail. We tired of chicken back and fish back. We want work. Too much of us at home sitting down after we leave school with subjects. We need to get rid of the ‘Paining Ps’. Mrs Cuthbert-Flynn comes around and talk with us and see our issues. I’ve never seen Mr Buchanan.”

Buchanan said if he lost his seat life goes on and in a democracy people have the right to be wrong, while adding that he has done his work and can’t do anymore. Cuthbert-Flynn’s plans for her constituency include the launch of the Mavis Gilmore Scholarship Fund in her first 100 days to honour Gilmore, a former JLP MP who will be 90 years old in April. The fund is expected to be a system for university students from the constituency to access tertiary funding. She also plans to set up homework centres in the constituency.