GREEN ISLAND, Hanover — People’s National Party’s (PNP) candidate for the Green Island Division, Marvell Sewell’s main message to his supporters is simple: Return him to office on Monday and then elect a PNP Government in the national polls.

“I just want to say to my voters of the People’s National Party: I never got a chance to work under the PNP Administration. From 2016 that I went in, I came under the leadership of the Jamaica Labour Party, so I want them to give me a chance and give [PNP President] Mark Golding a chance so I can work under the People’s National Party to deliver what they need and what they vote on. All I want to do is just to get a chance to work under the People’s National Party — that is my biggest thing I would like to say to my supporters,” he told the
Jamaica Observer.

Sewell is from the division. He went to Santoy Basic School, then Church Hill Primary, followed by Green Island High School. He later started his own taxi service.

He has big plans for the area if given a second chance to represent the people.

“One of the major things I really want to get [next] term is a bridge in Logwood,” he said, adding that he has long lobbied for that, especially “whenever it rains”.

“I sent over six estimates from 2017 up till now. In the next term I have to correct that problem,” stated Sewell.

Other infrastructure challenges he wants to address, if given a chance, include the Church Hill School Road and the Orange Bay Road where the National Water Commission (NWC) pipeline runs through to Negril; as well as Cane Road in Cay Valley, Lawless Road, Green River and Mountain Side.

“I always speak of the TEF [Tourism Enhancement Fund] that can do more for Hanover. Going forward, I would really like to see a road lit from where my division starts in Cove, to Negril,” he added.

Sewell also wants to do some work on the community centre in Santoy.

“When it has sporting activities going, violence decreases. If I could get some community centres and fields upgraded in the new term, and have a continuous sports programme throughout the year, it would make the community come together. Then when it comes to violence, it will lessen the chance,” he told the
Observer.

Even though there is a lot left to do, he stressed that he has also racked up a list of accomplishments in the seven years since he took over the predominantly PNP seat from the former mayor of Lucea, Shernet Haughton (PNP) in 2016.

“My first major achievement was to do the bypass in Green Island. And I lobbied for lights in Orange Bay heading into Negril. I only got 10, and I really need some more to finish that thoroughfare,” stated Sewell.

“I did the roads in Orange Bay and the Phoenix Town. I put in pipe in North Hill, in Crawl and Bushland. I had to [put in] some culverts there so that residents can walk on the street, because before then, whenever it rains, they cannot cross it. I do a lot of drain cleaning. I do a lot of sports sponsorship welfare, housing, burials, and all that stuff I got done in my first term,” he added.

When he last faced the electorate Sewell ran against two independent candidates and Ritcliffe Reid of the JLP who he defeated by 483 votes. This time around he will face off against school teacher and newcomer to politics, Demar McKenzie of the JLP.