ANNOTTO BAY, St Mary — Sitting councillor for the Annotto Bay Division, Hugh “Hugo” Bryan (Jamaica Labour Party) is determined to hold on to the seat he wrested from the PNP’s Dane Golding in 2016.

He is confident he can stave off any contest that comes from the new challenger the PNP has sent, Knute Bartley.

In his message to voters, Bryan has painted Bartley as a neophyte who has a lot to learn about local government. Bartley has, for example, criticised him for what he says is a failure to spur agricultural growth within the division. However, Bryan maintained that the criticism is an indicator of Bartley’s ignorance about the responsibilities of a locally elected representative.

“I would like to inform those persons who do not know that agriculture is not so much the responsibility of the councillor. I suggest that my opponent should know the work of a councillor before criticising the current one,” he retorted.

Bryan pointed out that he has been working to support the agricultural sector within his division, nevertheless.

“I have attended farmers’ meetings, assisted farmers to prepare their lands. Through the local economic funds I have assisted farmers with replenishing their livestock [and also provided] small farming tools such as machetes,” he told the Jamaica Observer.

Bryan was first elected to represent Annotto Bay in 2003. In 2007 he defeated the PNP’s Valerie Walters, getting 2,481 votes to her 2,187. In 2012 the PNP’s Dane Golding beat him by 600 votes. He took back the seat by 356 votes in 2016. He is urging voters to stick with him rather than starting over with an unknown.

“I have put in the work knowing [not only the needs of] my division [but] the needs of each division [in St Mary South Eastern], so getting a new representative [means the division] will have to start over instead of [me] continuing the job,” Bryan maintained.

He said based on what he has seen of Bartley’s campaign, residents of Annotto Bay will not benefit if the PNP representative is elected.

“I’m hopeful that he doesn’t get a chance to implement [his campaign promises] as they will not be beneficial to the people but more so himself,” he said.

Bryan reminded the electorate that he has been there for them.

“You have a councillor in Hugh Bryan that is close to the people and I make myself available to the people. I have the experience and knowledge that divisions with challenges need,” he said.

The division’s pain points, he noted, are roads, drains and electricity.

“Annotto Bay is a coastal area, therefore, drainage problems are one of the main concerns, along with a few areas that need electricity,” Bryan pointed out.

He cautioned that while he is addressing all the challenges identified it will take time to completely solve them. He stressed there is no magic wand but that he believes he has the dedication and patience needed to eventually get the job done.

“Some of my major achievements so far are the rehabilitation of the road in the Iter Boreale housing scheme, the coastline project which was initiated by the disaster mitigation programme, rehabilitation of some of the drains which were easily flooded, getting electricity to two communities — Dover and Crooked River — through the ministry of energy,” he said proudly.

He pointed out that in addition to the work he has done as councillor he has made significant contributions to the youth by assisting with school fees and providing general support regarding challenges accessing education.

Annotto Bay, Richmond, and Castleton are the three divisions held by the JLP within the St Mary South Eastern constituency. The PNP holds Belfield.