LITTLE LONDON, Westmoreland — Ian Myles, who beat the odds and won the Little London Division after walking away from the People’s National Party (PNP), now finds himself in what could be an uncomfortable position.

His former Comrade who he helped oust from the position of deputy mayor, Danree Delancy, is now tipped to be the leader of the PNP-controlled Westmoreland Municipal Corporation (WMC). And Myles, who was the deputy mayor before the vote, is once again in the minority.

However, Myles said he is unfazed by the turn of events and he is ready to work with Delancy, who represents the Bethel Town Division.

“I hope Danree, at this point in time, can rekindle the confidence that was lost, being the person now that we are seeing to take over the mantle. There is lots of work to be done in the municipality and where we are, Sav-la-Mar as a township has regressed rather than progressed,” Myles stressed.

Delancy was ousted last year on the basis that he was a non-performer. At the time that was widely seen as a strategic move in a bigger push to weaken the PNP within the WMC. It all began when the party hierarchy parachuted Ian Hayles into the parish, to be its candidate for the Westmoreland Western constituency.

Myles, Garfield James from the Sheffield Division and Lawton McKenzie from Grange Hill all resigned from the PNP in protest after party bigwigs failed to entertain their objections to Hayles’ presence. The JLP then took a vote that dislodged Delancy, thanks to covert support from Myles and James. Both men later crossed the floor to join the JLP. McKenzie later returned to the PNP but subsequently left to run as an independent after he was passed over as the party’s candidate in the poll that took place on Monday. He was unsuccessful. However, like Myles, James won his seat for the JLP on Monday.

On Tuesday afternoon an upbeat Myles described what victory felt like.

“The mood, the moment, here we are. I am ecstatic and feeling joyful, to say the least. What I saw last night in terms of reception that I got from the many supporters, oh my God! Little London is nice again. That bond that we share, that love, the fellowship, the joy — that kind of interaction is second to none,” he gushed as he spoke with the Jamaica Observer.

He said he had no doubt that he would win. According to the preliminary count he raked in 1,230 votes to 1,079 for the PNP’s Oliver Reid. Myles expressed his gratitude to “every single voter” who got him elected.

The educator said when sworn in he will tackle repair of the parochial road network and push ahead with the digital library as he continues to lobby for sponsorship.

For his part, James — also an educator — dedicated his victory to his supporters.

“I first want to express my sincere appreciation to the constituents of Sheffield Division which I have served in my capacity as councillor, as candidate, and now I have been elected as the next councillor to serve again. I want to commend them for their dedication,” he said cheerfully.

“They were able to recognise that I am one who truly believes in service, hard work, integrity and performance, and they have delivered by ensuring that I have gotten another mandate to continue the work I have started,” James added.

He won with 1,104 votes while the PNP’s Derrick McKenzie received 920.