NEWELL, St Elizabeth — Member of Parliament for St Elizabeth South Western Floyd Green says the constituency has made progress in infrastructural development under the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Government as he aims for a third term.

The seat, which is considered a constituency which consistently elects a representative of the party elected to form the Government (weathervane constituency], saw its largest margin of victory since 1989 being that of Green defeating People’s National Party (PNP) candidate Ewan Stephenson (deceased) by 2,090 votes in 2020. In 2016, Green defeated former PNP MP Hugh Buchanan by 2,057 votes.

“We can’t afford to go back,” Green told supporters during a JLP joint divisional conference at Newell High School on Sunday.

The conference was held in support of mayor of Black River Derrick Sangster (JLP, Mountainside Division) and aspirant for the Pedro Plains Division Dr Karl Whyte. Councillor and former mayor of Black River Jeremy Palmer (JLP, Pedro Plains Division) said he will not be seeking re-election.

Green, who is also minister of agriculture, fisheries and mining, said the Government is addressing the need for irrigation in the constituency.

“When I came here I realised that water was the real issue, especially in the Pedro Plains Division. We don’t just talk about it. The first thing we did, we extended the current irrigation system. We brought irrigation into Shorthill…We bought two brand new trucks and brought them right here for the farmers of South West St Elizabeth,” said Green.

He declared that the Pedro Plains Irrigation Scheme is now the main focus for the Administration as it seeks to ensure that the farmers to access water.

“From 2017, we met with the farmers. We looked at the water volume in the Black River and whether the water volume could really serve the farmers. We spent over $100 million putting in the paperwork,” Green explained.

“What we are doing right now is that we are going around and we are mapping the land, so that we can get the easement to run the pipe when we take the water from the Black River, we are going to bring irrigation to places like Barbary Hall, Greenfield, Mountainside, Burnt Savannah, Flagaman all the way down to Southfield. This will happen under this Labour Party Government,” added Green.

The agriculture minister said the Government intends to break ground for the Pedro Plains Irrigation Scheme next year.

According to Green, the JLP intends to keep its clean sweep in St Elizabeth over the PNP.

“I realise in St Elizabeth they [PNP] have a real problem. They want to target us in St Elizabeth. They want to come back and take St Elizabeth…Any weh dem go macka juk them. St Elizabeth is now firmly under the Jamaica Labour Party,” Green said.

“I have a message for them, ‘Leave St Elizabeth alone, because we are not going back’,” he added.

St Elizabeth South Western consists of four divisions, Mountainside, Pedro Plains, Black River and Brompton. Black River is the only division controlled by the PNP.

However, Green signalled that the JLP is now going after that division.

“St Elizabeth has seen underdevelopment, because of the other side and we are not going back. What we are going to do is ensure that when the prime minister calls the local government election we are going to ensure that Derrick [Sangster] wins with a bigger margin. We are going to ensure that Whitney [Smith Currie] wins with a bigger margin. We are going to ensure that Karl [Whyte] wins with a bigger margin and we are going to take the Black River Division once and for all,” Green said as he the PNP of trying to trick people.

“When dem hear seh me ago fix the road dem run go drop one load a marl that cyaah fool south west people. Dem hear seh me a come fix the road, dem drop marl and do video. People nuh want talk. People want action,” Green said.