Dr Norman Dunn yesterday reversed his narrow five-vote loss in St Mary South Eastern 20 months ago, giving People’s National Party (PNP) political newcomer Dr Shane Alexis a sound beating by more than 900 votes in a parliamentary by-election held on the exact date when the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) registered a landslide victory over the PNP 37 years ago.

“The work has just begun. We can celebrate tonight because we should, but tomorrow is a new day for South East St Mary,” Dunn, who polled 8,176 votes to Alexis’s 7,230, told jubilant party supporters at a victory rally in the Annotto Bay square bus park last night.

A similar message was delivered by Andrew Holness, the prime minister and JLP leader. “While we bask in the glory and victory of tonight, tomorrow we go back to our reality. And I want you to understand that I appreciate the reality that you have been living; that I come from that reality; and that I am committed with 100 per cent of everything I have, and I know the same for my team, to [change] the condition of the life of the people. After this election I cannot forget the people of South East St Mary,” Holness told the horn-blowing supporters.

“As leader of the Jamaica Labour Party I have tasted the agony of defeat, and I have also tasted the thrill of victory. And Labourites, for a long time, yearned for the thrill of victory; and now we see our party emerging not only as victorious but a party that has substance behind it,” he said.

“We hear that this election would be a referendum on the Government and my leadership. The only referendum in this election is whether or not someone who is not a Jamaican should sit in our Parliament,” Holness added.

His reference was to Alexis who, it emerged, is a Canadian citizen and who also holds a Grenadian passport.

Alexis’s nationality was publicised a few weeks ago by the JLP which, after winning the 2007 General Election, was rattled by the PNP which filed dual citizenship challenges against Daryl Vaz, Shahine Robinson, Michael Stern, Gregory Mair, and Everald Warmington.

The five, starting with Vaz, gave up their foreign passports and were returned to Gordon House in subsequent by-elections.

Holness’s referendum reference last night was in response PNP President Dr Peter Phillips who had declared the St Mary by-election a referendum on the stewardship of the JLP Government.

The battle for St Mary South Eastern was one of three by-elections held yesterday. The other two — St Andrew Southern and St Andrew South Western — were, as expected, easily won by the PNP’s candidates Mark Golding and Angela Brown Burke, respectively.

Last night Phillips, in a message on Twitter, said: “Congrats to our 3 candidates Cde. Golding, Brown-Burke & Alexis. We have won 2 out [of] 3 & will build from there. Congratulations to Dr. Dunn.”

Yesterday’s result increases the ruling JLP’s seats in the House of Representatives to 33, compared to the Opposition PNP’s 30.

Last night Dunn, who lost the 2016 parliamentary elections to the now deceased Dr Winston Green, told the Jamaica Observer that the outcome would not have gone any other way.

He said that the numbers were “phenomenal”, and that he saw some surprises, especially in the Belfield Division, where JLP voters overperformed.

Local Government Minister Desmond McKenzie told the Observer that the win in St Mary South Eastern came from an organised JLP.

“It is about a party that is well organised. It is about a party leadership. What we saw here today is a demonstration of a renewed Labour Party led by Prime Minister Andrew Holness,” he said.

“The people of South East St Mary have made an investment that eventually is going to take them from poverty to prosperity. We know what we were doing; we knew what it required as a party,” McKenzie added.

There were tense moments yesterday as voting got under way in the constituency.

A clash between PNP and JLP supporters who were said to have been imported, in Richmond had the police busy.

In Annotto Bay, strong support for both parties was obvious with bussed-in crowds flooding the streets.

In Enfield, a PNP stronghold, support was allegedly withheld, according to a former PNP Member of Parliament, who asked not to be named.

“I am trying, but dem tell mi seh, ‘Bwoy, wi waah vote for Shane, but unnu naah let off’,” the former MP told the Observer.

Belfield was buzzing with supporters of the two parties.

In Castleton, voting was quiet with the noted absence of vuvuzelas and bell ringing.

After the results became clear, jubilant JLP supporters gyrated through the streets of Annotto Bay carrying whatever part of trees they could.

“No Shane ’round here,” they shouted.