Former Member of Parliament for St Andrew North Western Derrick Smith says victory for his son Duane in Friday’s by-election in the constituency would be an early present to him ahead of his birthday next week.

The elder Smith will turn 81 on November 27.

“I will be 81 next week so I am expecting the victory this evening,” Derrick Smith told reporters after he and wife Karleen voted for their son.

Derrick Smith, who resigned as MP for the constituency in 2018 after representing in parliament for 29 unbroken years, also shared some advice for his son.

“Whether it’s 10 per cent or 90 per cent, the fact is that you will be elected to represent North West St Andrew and you will be expected to do that to the best of your ability, not just for the people in green shirt but for the entire constituency,” he advised.

Duane Smith, a three-term councillor for the Chancery Hall Division, is expected to succeeded Dr Nigel Clarke as the Jamaica Labour Party representative for the constituency, as the main Opposition People’s National Party is not contesting the by-election.

Clarke resigned as Member of Parliament for the constituency at the end of last month to take up the deputy managing director position with the International Monetary Fund.