THEY wore their green and orange shirts proudly and loudly declared that they had voted for their party’s candidate, but their bond of friendship, which has developed over the years, would not be broken by the intense local government contest in the key Rae Town Division of Kingston Central.

At Police National Sports Club on Elleston Road, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporter Simone, and People’s National Party (PNP) supporter Cindy, were all smiles as they embraced while the voting was taking place.

“We are friends fi years and years and years,” said Simone as she proudly sported her green shirt and voiced her support for the JLP’s candidate Rosealie Hamilton.

“And me a support Ribba,” chimed the orange-clad Cindy as she made it clear that she was backing the PNP’s candidate Shawn McGregor.

“Politics can’t mash us up when time di politicians dem a eat steak an’ enjoy themselves an’ laugh at wi [when wi a fight each other] — no, no,” declared Simone.

A laughing Cindy told the Jamaica Observer that despite their political differences, Simone is her friend for life.

“And when mi hungry, she have to give me little dinner — she have to give me,” declared Cindy.

It was a similar scene at the polling centre at St Michael’s Primary School in the Rae Town Division as a lone PNP female outdoor agent jousted with a large group of JLP supporters in an area known as South Side, which has been dominated by that party for years.

“You see is me alone Ribba [McGregor] send out here but me good,” said the woman who did not give her name, even as she engaged in a friendly jostle with a JLP supporter for the only chair outside the polling station.

Minutes later a convoy of vehicles carrying PNP supporters passed the polling centre, causing the woman to start shouting, “Power, power,” which is the party’s campaign slogan.

In minutes one of the cars stopped and the occupant emerged, with one man in an orange T-shirt advancing towards his Comrade and the group of JLP supporters.

But as the lone PNP supporter rushed towards him, she was pushed away while he was surrounded by green-clad JLP supporters who declared that he was their man.

A friendly tussle occurred as the PNP supporter struggled to get a hug from her colleague, who was mobbed by the JLP supporters who sought to kiss and hug him.

The Rae Town Division was identified as one to watch in Monday’s local government elections after Hamilton won it by just one vote in the 2016 contest.

At that time Hamilton, a veteran councillor, beat McGregor who was a newcomer to representational politics. There was also a shooting incident on election day in 2016, which was believed to be politically related.

Going into Monday’s polls both candidates expressed confidence that they would emerge victorious, with one key Hamilton supporter telling the Observer that she would poll more than 3,000 votes.

That was scoffed at by McGregor who told the Observer that if that was the case, there would be no need for an election.

In 2016 Hamilton polled 1,884 to McGregor’s 1,883, with 37 per cent of the electors voting.