Eight-star general, the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Derrick Smith is heaping praise on the performance of the women who represented the party in the 2016 General Election last Thursday.

Smith, who won his first ticket to Gordon House, seat of Jamaica’s Parliament, in 1983 in the Kingston Central constituency, then moved to St Andrew, North Western where he won in 1989, 1993, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2011 and now in 2016. He was particularly happy with the victories posted by Juliet Cuthbert in West Rural St Andrew and Juliet Holness in East Rural St Andrew.

“Let me first say that I am ecstatic and very pleased with the performance of all the ladies who ran on the JLP ticket in the last election, whether they won or they lost the constituencies they ran in.

“The party fielded 11 ladies, five of whom were first-timers at the polls, and when I saw the results coming in, I felt proud. I felt happiness that they were all doing so well representing the JLP,” Smith told the Jamaica Observer.

“Of the 11 women who represented the JLP, stalwarts Olivia ‘Babsy’ Grange, Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, and Shahine Robinson all retained their seats, as expected, but it was the performance of Juliet Cuthbert in West Rural St Andrew and Juliet Holness in East Rural, which by the way we had in the win column, which brought a great amount of personal satisfaction.

“Cuthbert displayed her potency despite being pregnant and was a living testimony to the strength of Jamaica women, while Holness, notwithstanding the bitter attacks on her personal life and her husband, our party leader, worked tirelessly, got out the votes and won against a well-resourced opponent,” Smith stated.

Commenting on the others, the former minister of national security highlighted the win by Fayval Williams in Eastern St Andrew as one of great significance for the forward economic thrust of the JLP.

“Fayval is a quiet giant, a very determined individual who works very hard to achieve her goals and aspirations. Her attention to details manifested itself in the way she led her constituency organisation. Williams’ win was one of organisation and a clearly defined path. I also have a special word of appreciation for Marlene Malahoo Forte whose ‘never say die’ attitude came to the fore in West Central St James,” Smith said.

The other JLP women who represented the party but did not win were Beverley Prince against Peter Phillips in St Andrew East Central, Saphire Longmore against Evon Redman in St Elizabeth North Eastern, Kerensia Morrison against Natalie Neita Headley in St Catherine North Central, and Andrea Walters against Luther Buchanan in Westmoreland Eastern.

“For the ladies who did not win, it should be noted that Longmore and Morrison were very late additions to the JLP slate while Prince and Walters were up against opponents in what can be considered strongholds for the other party,” Smith added.