KINGSTON, Jamaica —The Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) says it is confident about winning Thursday’s by-election as its internal canvas data continue to show the party’s candidate, Damion Crawford, ahead of his rival, Ann Marie Vaz.

“The PNP will continue the work in East Portland, as much was achieved over the past 30 years and Dr Lynvale Bloomfield, who was brutally murdered, was a strong advocate for the people. With his victory, Damion Crawford will continue to be the strong representative of all the people of East Portland going forward,” PNP General Secretary Julian Robinson said in a statement this afternoon.

The party said it remains confident that the people of East Portland will continue to give it their support, based on the plans and programmes outlined by Crawford.

Robinson reiterated that Crawford and the PNP continue to hold majority support throughout the East Portland constituency, adding that his “message of economic independence and empowerment is resonating with the people of East Portland and this will translate into more jobs, better roads and improved water supply throughout the constituency.”

Robinson’s statement is contradictory to the Observer/NationWide Bill Johnson polls which show Vaz ahead of Crawford.

However, the PNP general secretary maintained that the party’s internal canvas is consistent with the findings of a poll conducted by the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Research Services Inc (CDRS) in early March, noting that it also correctly predicted the general election results in Barbados to the specific seat count.

“The turnout of East Portlanders to all our events has been phenomenal and the energy and enthusiasm of our workers and supporters demonstrate that every polling division is ready. So we are looking forward to this victory,” Robinson said.