ST ANN’S BAY, St Ann — Emboldened by a sea of orange that flooded the streets of St Ann’s Bay last Thursday, People’s National Party candidates for divisions in St Ann North Eastern were not short on confidence as they expressed their desire to once again see the former PNP strongholds under the orange banner.

The party’s constituency caretaker for St Ann North Eastern, Ryan Simpson told the
Jamaica Observer that residents have been eagerly anticipating the date and are ready to go to the polls.

The thrice-postponed local government election is set for February 26.

Simpson believes the PNP can capitalise on what he sees as the poor leadership of the governing Jamaica Labour Party.

“The Jamaica Labour Party Government has greatly disappointed the people. There is no representation across the country; they are not working in the best interest of the people of Jamaica. And so even though the prime minister may sit on his shiny city on the hill and think Jamaica is prosperous place, we are not feeling the prosperity of the Government. What we are feeling is poverty. People are getting richer but is not the average Jamaican. The wealthy class gets wealthier; the poorer class are getting poorer. We are feeling it in our pockets…We have two Jamaica’s, one of them is for the second-class citizen, which is the mass, so the people are ready for a change, as you can see the Comrades come out,” he said.

Simpson claimed that even JLP supporters have indicated that they are not in support of the Government.

“A lot of Labourites on the ground are saying they are either going to stay home or they’re going to come and vote for the PNP, but the JLP Government has to go,” he thundered.

“We are going to send a signal, starting with the local government. The Government of Jamaica has made it very easy for the PNP. We still have a long way to go…we’re not saying that it’s going to be an easy task but I am very confident that we are going to win. We’re going to win divisions in North East St Ann back for the PNP. North East St Ann is the voice of PNP bastion, the people have not gone anywhere, they are still here. So we’re going to win it back with every division, including the Exchange Division. Keep your eyes on the Exchange Division, we’re going after it,” he declared.

The constituency caretaker said the goal is to provide sustainable careers and jobs that foster residents’ dignity.

Trevor Grier, who has his sights set on being councillor of the Exchange Division, pointed to a number of issues that he said need to be fixed.

“Everything is broken…In Exchange the road is broken; electricity is going out every single night, that is broken. The school system in Exchange needs to be sorted out, that’s broken, there is only one clinic in the Exchange Division, that is broken. I am saying it is time to fix up everything that is broken and I am going to fix it up,” he vowed.

Nathaniel Lawrence, who is vying for the St Ann’s Bay Division, bemoaned the condition of the parish capital.

“The St Ann’s Bay Division has been neglected for 20 years plus…[Once] you could walk in St Ann’s Bay with your head held high…[Now] St Ann’s Bay is walking backwards. It is standing on its head — or should I say her head,” he said.

The PNP’s confidence that they will win was echoed by equally certain JLP.

“l am confident that I will return as councillor for the Lime Hall Division. I believe in the last seven years I would have done the work and I connected with the people. So I have no doubt that on the 26th the people will retain me as their councillor. I know that based on where they see the community coming from to where they are and what the plans they know I have for them…and I have total confidence in my supporters,” said incumbent Genevor Gordon-Bailey.

For his part, Matthew Samuda (JLP), who is aspiring to be the Member of Parliament for St Ann North Eastern, believes the PNP’s goals are unattainable.

“The JLP is poised to deliver a four-nil victory over the PNP in the local government elections. We’re going to ensure that we clean up North East St Ann,” he said.

Thursday’s nominations took place at the Electoral Office in St Ann’s Bay. Scores of supporters from both parties blanketed the venue as their candidates were nominated.

The JLP candidates arrived shortly after 10:30 am while the PNP candidates arrived shortly after noon.