ANCHOVY, St James — Member of Parliament Homer Davis is confident he will secure back-to-back victories and hold on to St James Southern when he once again contests the seat on a Jamaica Labour Party ticket (JLP).

At the last national poll in 2020 Davis secured 7,223 votes to the 5,275 obtained by the People’s National Party’s (PNP’s) Walton Small — clinching victory after two previous unsuccessful attempts to win the seat. This time around, Davis will be going up against the PNP’s Nekeisha Burchell.

In recent months political pundits have suggested that the seat will be hotly contested, noting that Burchell has been making steady inroads in the constituency. However, speaking during a well-attended JLP workers’ meeting at Cambridge High School in the constituency Sunday night, Davis dismissed those suggestions.

“Some persons are in doubt but I have never been in doubt that Southern St James will remain in the winner’s column of the Jamaica Labour Party,” he told a mass of green-clad Labourites.

“I was advised not to pay attention to some people but sometimes you have to say some things, because in the last six, eight months some people a run up and dung all over the place. Dem a run up and dung all over the place and when I decide say a time fi me step out, all of sudden everybody have heart attack. But let me tell you this: They don’t see anything yet!” a confident Davis added.

He said he hit the road the day after his birthday and he has been impressed with the results.

“A month ago a team from Maroon Town started the journey. On the 13th of July I decided to test the water, and we did test the water. And when we blocked Mount Horeb Square, when we put 150 vehicles in a motorcade, man start get worried. As a matter of fact, I checked the Facebook page this [Sunday] morning and the Mount Horeb meeting has gotten over 150,000 likes,” an upbeat Davis said.

“And then we decided to move into Anchovy and they got the message. And I am sure that this [Sunday] evening they have gotten the message further that, ‘Listen, step aside. The real man is here!’ “ he added.

Among party bigwigs also at the event was JLP general secretary and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Horace Chang, who is also minister of national security and Member of Parliament for St James North Western. JLP veteran and Senate President Tom Tavares-Finson was guest speaker at the event where party workers were recognised with medals and certificates for long service to the party.

Dr Chang urged Labourites to ensure that on election day they go out and vote to return Davis to the seat so as to continue his work in addressing 30 years of neglect in the constituency under the PNP.

“I know you will carry the message! Defend your party and carry the message to your community to bring out the voters, come election, and restore Homer Davis to Parliament as your Member of Parliament, and keep the country on the road to progress, peace and prosperity,” the JLP general secretary pressed.

Confidently asserting that the JLP will prevail on election day, Tavares-Finson also told supporters to mobilise across the constituency and ensure Davis’s re-election.

“I know I don’t have to tell you — you want to make sure that you have a Government Member of Parliament. An Opposition Member of Parliament up yah, you don’t deserve that! The Jamaica Labour Party is counting on each and every one of you to return your Member of Parliament, Homer Davis,” Tavares-Finson urged.

Member of Parliament for St James Southern Homer Davis speaking during Sunday’s rally at Cambridge High School. (Photo: Horace Hines)

JLP veteran Tom Tavares-Finson (left) listens as general secretary of the Jamaica Labour Party Dr Horace Chang makes a point during a JLP workers’ meeting in St James last Sunday. (Photo: Horace Hines)