LUCEA, Hanover — Shell-shocked with disbelief that the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) only managed to win one of seven divisions in the parish, Member of Parliament (MP) for Hanover Western Tamika Davis says it is time for a long, hard look at why decisions and accomplishment
s made at central government level have not been felt on the ground, within the municipalities.

“We will have to regroup and make an honest and truthful assessment of what is happening on the ground that caused this, notwithstanding the work that we have been doing. It must be something else, because when you ask the average person I am sure everyone would agree that one, the Jamaica Labour Party is doing well; [and] two, as Member of Parliament I am doing well. So, I don’t know how that has not trickled down to our councillor candidates and that is what we will have to examine,” Davis told the Jamaica Observer following the devastating loss.

For example, she is puzzled that the development of Chambers Pen into a model community did little to move the needle in the JLP’s favour. Chambers Pen is the pilot for the Rural Development Programme (RDP) which is spearheaded by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Development across five parishes. The second project is currently being carried out in Cheswick, St Thomas.

The RDP was introduced in 2021 and the Chambers Pen leg of the programme was officially launched in June 2022.

“Chambers Pen would have been one of those communities that would have seen great improvement. I can’t say right offhand now what [the source of Monday’s result] is, but it is not the turnout that we expected based on all that is happening,” said Davis.

“If it is that persons are voting based on all that is happening, then certainly, you would agree with me that it is a surprise to see Chambers Pen not turn out for the Jamaica Labour Party when we look at all that has been done in that area,” she added, clearly disheartened even as she graciously extended congratulations to the winning candidates.

Her fellow Labourite, Member of Parliament for Hanover Eastern Dave Brown, attributed the trouncing the JLP received to two factors.

“In all fairness, we did not get the sort of turnout that we were looking for. The other thing, our base did not turn out. The PNP outnumbered us in the Hopewell and the Sandy Bay divisions,” stated Brown.

He had a few theories about why they stayed away.

“It is a combination of issues. It could be the candidates; because I have heard some complaints in the Hopewell Division about the candidate and some of his shortcomings. Not being there like he should have been. They are saying that he could have done more for the 12 years that he was in [office],” stated MP Brown.

“For the Sandy Bay Division, we have not won it in 40 years and we are always playing catchup in that division. I don’t think that the candidate had enough time to make any real inroads in that division because of a change of candidate close to the time,” he added.

For a victorious Sheridan Samuels, the former mayor of Lucea who was re-elected to represent the Cauldwell Division, the reason for the PNP’s win is very clear.

“It is the suffering that the people are facing. Poor people are not enjoying life under this Government. If you have listened to our slogan, ‘Time come’. Time come for a lot of things. Time come for people to start living happily. Time come for people to leave their doors open. We cannot live like this in this country. All we are hearing every day is lies upon lies. What level of integrity these people have over there?” he argued.

“They might be questioning me but I can place on record that I was investigated to the highest level and I am clean,” assured Samuels.

He was referring to an investigation into allegations of mismanagement and nepotism in the awarding of contracts by the Hanover Municipal Corporation in October 2020.

Ahead of Monday’s vote, the PNP had three divisions in Hanover. At the end of voting that moved to four. It picked up the Lucea Division after political newcomer Brian “Penta” Chambers sent two-term politician Easton “Brown Dawg” Edwards of the JLP packing.

In Hanover Eastern, the PNP won the Hopewell Division with political newcomer Lennox “Zico” Fray sending home the JLP minority leader Devon Brown. The Comrades maintained their dominance in the Sandy Bay Division. The JLP retained the Chester Castle Division with political newcomer and educator Kaydeen Myles-Campbell warding off a challenge from a former mayor of Lucea Wynter McIntosh.

Samuels now has his sights set on wresting control of central government from the JLP.

“My immediate plan is to get the Jamaica Labour Party out of government so that the Hanover Municipal Corporation can get a free hand as to how to develop the town,” he said.

In a pre-election interview, he had complained bitterly that between 2016 and 2024, the JLP Administration starved the PNP-led municipal corporation of resources.