The surprise win for President-elect Donald Trump in the United States presidential election seemed to have energised candidates vying for positions in the St Thomas Parish Council.

On Friday, supporters of both the Jamaica Labour Party and People’s National Party made reference to the win, indicating that their victory will be as surprising as that of Republican Trump over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.

“A Trump we ago Trump dem!” one PNP supporter in Eastern St Thomas shouted to her fellow Comrade. “We ago surprise dem wid di win.”

“Trump style we a do it enuh, we ago surprise dem like wa,” a woman, who nominated the PNP’s Ludlow Mathison from the Bath division, stated.

Similarly, Member of Parliament for St Thomas Western James Robertson told the

Jamaica Observer that in campaigning with his JLP councillor hopefuls, his strategy will be to “tell the people what they want to hear”.

“I have learnt a lot from the past 18 months you know,” Robertson noted, making reference to the US election.

“We’re gonna Trump them,” he continued.

The ratio in the St Thomas Parish Council is seven to three in favour of the PNP. The 10 divisions are: Morant Bay, Bath, Dalvey, and Port Morant in the east; Llandewey, Yallahs, White Horses, Seaforth, Trinityville, and Cedar Valley in the west.

Robertson also said that he intends to unearth the happenings of the current parish council. While campaigning in Yallahs, the member of parliament made several scathing accusations about the parish council, insinuating that there was a disproportion in the allocation of funds.

“I am going to expose every dollar dem tief, I am going to make the people know how tief di St Thomas Parish Council has been for the last four years,” he said.

“…The St Thomas Parish Council in 2013/2014 spent through the 10 councillors, $75 million. In 2014 them spend $88 million [and]… election year, last year them spend $108 million,” he noted as he read from a sheet of paper.

“I have to tell you when they give the PNP councillors $15 million for the year, you know how much them give Mr Rawle (JLP councillor for the Trinityville division)? … $4 million, to do the same work,” he complained. “They get 11 million dollars more than Mr Rawle … three times the amount.”

He told party supporters that between April and September, the council spent $70 million.

The four-time MP thanked the revellers for their continued support and encouraged them to unite to regain the reins in the parish council.

“Labourites, I am going to be communicating with you. I am going to be campaigning as of today right to election day. People are suffering, people want caring councillors. Well, the Jamaica Labour Party has given you the most caring people,” he said.

The JLP candidates vying for election in St Thomas include: Dean Jones, Yallahs division; Daveon McKenzie, White Horses; Francisco Bonner, Llandewey; Lenworth Rawle, Trinityville; Kerry Francis, Cedar Valley; Vivienne Spencer, Seaforth; Michael McLeod, Dalvey; Michael Hue, Port Morant; Nordeen McKenzie, Bath; Hanif Brown, Morant Bay.

The PNP candidates are: Constantine Bogle, Yallahs; Edwin Marr, Llandewey; Marsha Francis, Cedar Valley; Olive Stewart, Trinityville; Dexter Effs, Seaforth; Hubert Williams, White Horses; Ludlow Mathison, Bath; Rohan Bryan, Morant Bay; Victor Hutchinson, Port Morant; Jairzenho Bailey, Dalvey.

Almost 500 candidates were nominated on Friday to contest 229 positions in the local government election slated for November 28.

Both major political parties will contest all 229 divisions with their 458 candidates.