LUCEA, Hanover — Attorney-at-law Tamika Davis, who was on Sunday selected by Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) delegates in Hanover Western as the potential caretaker for the constituency, has big plans for the area.

Speaking to journalists after amassing 129 votes to her opponent Andrew McLeary’s 102 votes in a run-off at Rusea’s High School in Hanover, Davis said her desire is to create jobs and improve infrastructure in the constituency.

“Well, at the very outset I can say that I have always been of the view that western Hanover has been stagnant for sometime. There has been no development. I know that this cannot be achieved overnight, but certainly as I go forward, my intention and my desire is to put infrastructure in place that benefits the western Hanoverians. We want to see factories, we want to create more jobs, we want more training centres, we want better roads, and we want water,” Davis said.

The attorney-at-law’s victory follows last week’s contentious selection process, held at the same venue, which ended with no clear winner.

In that contest, former mayor of Lucea Vasca Brown came out with 20 votes, former Hanover Parish Development Committee chairman and businessman Dwayne Clayton amassed 18 votes, Davis secured 86 votes, and McLeary walked away with 88 votes.

JLP General Secretary Dr Horace Chang stated then that the person who would go forward as the party’s candidate must get 50 per cent of the votes, plus one. As a result, a run-off was held between the candidates with the highest votes, Davis and McLeary, at Rusea’s High on Sunday.

Dr Chang, in announcing the winner who would be recommended to the officers of the party to be the standard-bearer, said he was pleased with the level of energy he witnessed in the constituency.

“I am very pleased with the spirit of the constituency. It is the first I have seen in a little while, this level of energy in the constituency. If we keep it together, we will win and beat Ian Hayles (the sitting Member of Parliament),” expressed an optimistic Chang.

Dr Chang had also vowed to assist Davis with wrestling the seat from Hayles.

“I want to assure you, based on who you have recommended, I will come here and fight with you to take back the seat from the People’s National Party (PNP). Ian Hayles has done nothing for the constituency. They are divided…and we can now work to win back this constituency and bring back hope to the people,” the general secretary assured.

Davis, in her victory speech, thanked the delegates for their support.

“I want to thank each and every person that came out today (Sunday), whether you voted for me or any other candidate, ‘Thank you’. Your presence here means that you are a part of the democratic process and you aired your views, but we are all one and no matter who we voted for, or who we supported, we are going forward as one,” Davis told Labourites.

McLeary, who last week was not pleased with the decision of the party to have a run-off, told the Jamaica Observer on Sunday that he now accepts the voice of the majority.

“I gave it my best, but at the end of the day I have always maintained that I will respect the views or wishes of the majority. The majority has spoken tonight and I have accepted that. And, I am committed to working with Ms Tamika Davis for as long as it takes to make sure that we put the seat back in the hands of the Jamaica Labour Party,” stated McLeary.

The Hanover Western constituency seat has been held by the PNP for the past 30 years, following the departure of Dr Chang, who held the seat between 1981 and 1989.

Benjamin Clare, who defeated Dr Chang, held the seat between 1989 and 2002 and was followed by Ralston Anson, who held the seat between 2003 and 2007

The sitting MP, Ian Hayles, who continued the PNP retention of the seat, secured 6,813 votes to the 5,355 votes received by his JLP opponent, Brian Wallace, in the February 2016 General Election.