WHILE her political history shows that she has switched from one party to another on more than one occasion, Yvonne Shaw said this time around she is committed to serving as the People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for St Thomas Eastern in the September 3 General Election.

Shaw’s comments followed remarks from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate and incumbent in the constituency, Dr Michelle Charles, who poked fun at what she said was her opponent’s lack of political loyalty.

But Shaw argued that while she has switched allegiance over the years, that is not important as she is the same person.

“I think that what is important is that I serve the people well — and that is what they are looking for. I am committed to the People’s National Party at this point in time, undoubtedly,” she told journalists outside Coke Methodist Church in Morant Bay, where she was nominated to contest the general election.

A former mayor of Morant Bay, Shaw had previously switched allegiance from the JLP to the PNP, then back to the JLP, which she last represented in the 2012 election.

But Shaw said in her many years as a councillor, spanning both political parties, she has a record of performance, and urged undecided voters to consider her achievements when they go to the polls.

“I am appealing to you: Just look at my record of performance as a councillor for 26 unbroken years and since November of last year. My service is there to speak for itself, so that is what I’m banking on.”

“I have also given service to the constituency of Eastern St Thomas as far back as 15 years old. I was once the president of the St Thomas chapter of the youth club. I was also the National Youth Service officer [who] employed people and placed them in this parish for 12 years,” said Shaw.

She further challenged what she called Charles’ “so-called” record of achievements in the constituency and declared that there is little evidence to support those claims. Shaw pointed to the chronic water problems that continue to plague St Thomas Eastern and pledged that, if elected, she will prioritise resolving the issue along with improving the farm and community roads, as well as increasing employment opportunities.

“Service is what I am all about. I am the servant and not a master, and I enjoy service-representational politics, but service is my mantra,” said Shaw.

While she refrained from stating her prediction for a margin of victory, Shaw said a canvas of the constituency shows that she is ahead of Charles.

She added that she also has the support of former Member of Parliament for the constituency Dr Fenton Ferguson, who tasted victory in six consecutive elections before losing to Charles in 2020.

Ferguson told reporters he is confident about the love constituents have for Shaw, and rejected claims that she does not have his full support.

“I am very confident that on this occasion we will again succeed — even as we look at the bigger picture of forming the Government of Jamaica on the fourth of September with Mark Jefferson Golding as the prime minister,” said Ferguson.

Incumbent Member of Parliament Michelle Charles (third left) marches with party supporters to Coke Methodist Church in Morant Bay on Monday when she was, for the second time, nominated as the Jamaica Labour Party’s candidate for St Thomas Eastern.