PEOPLE’S National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding has claimed that he is now being seen more favourably by Jamaicans when compared to Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Leader Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness.

Pointing to the recently published RJR/Gleaner Don Anderson opinion poll Golding said, “I am significantly ahead of Andrew Holness because he has such a big unfavourability rating. The momentum is definitely with the PNP coming out of the publishing of our manifesto and all the ideas we have in there, and there is more to come as well. We had a fantastic parish meeting on Saturday in Cross Roads — and that was a crowd largely drawn from the Corporate Area.”

Golding was addressing journalists on Monday following his nomination as the PNP’s candidate for the St Andrew Southern constituency in the September 3 General Election.

Golding led scores of PNP supporters from Spanish Town Road to the nomination centre at St Luke’s Church in Cross Roads, arriving some 30 minutes before he was scheduled to be nominated at 10:00 am. He used the time to chat with his dancing and cheering supporters.

After paying the $15,000 nomination fee and completing the process an upbeat Golding emerged to face journalists and his jubilant supporters.

“We are now duly nominated and we are now ready to claim victory on September 3. Let us not assume that we win already. Wi nuh win yet until every ballot gets counted. Every vote has to count. I am asking each and every one to come out and put your X beside the head,” Golding bellowed to the crowd of PNP supporters.

Despite serving as Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency since 2017, Golding said he is still not taking anything for granted.

“I respect the rights of the voters to make their choice — this is a democracy. Obviously I am confident because I have an excellent team. I have a lot of national duties but we try to keep the constituency organisation very strong and we don’t take anything for granted. We are doing the work,” Golding said.

At noon, a small number of JLP supporters accompanied political newcomer Carlton Allen to St Luke’s Church to be nominated as that party’s candidate.

After emerging from the nomination centre Allen tried to dodge journalists who kept up with him and squeezed in a few questions to the candidate who is not expected to pose a serious challenge to Golding.

“St Andrew Southern is a constituency that is undeveloped and the [people] need proper representation. It is the decision of the people, and definitely we hope for the best to send a signal that the people need a change,” said Allen.

But his supporters, mainly women, seemed resigned to another PNP victory in the constituency, with one telling the Jamaica Observer that Allen is sure of at least 300 votes.

In the 2020 General Election Golding garnered 7,881 votes, crushing the JLP candidate, Victor Hyde, who received just under 1,100 votes.

“We can’t defeat him [Mark Golding] but we a try wi best. Andrew Holness will get a third term to free up your future,” one female JLP supporter said.

A fellow female JLP supporter added, “We might lose the seat but the JLP won’t lose the election because Andrew Holness a tek it to him [Mark Golding]. We just want JLP and the PNP to keep it steady. A one blood! No violence.”

Another constituent, who said she hails from the community of Rose Town, told the Observer that many residents of St Andrew Southern are now more willing to choose Jamaica and vote for the JLP.

“We can’t choose blood and fire. We have to choose Jamaica,” the woman said as she created a contrast between the PNP’s ‘Blood and Fire’ slogan with the JLP’s ‘Choose Jamaica’.

People’s National Party (PNP) President Mark Golding poses with supporters for a selfie on Monday during nomination day activities. Golding was nominated at St Luke’s Church in Cross Roads as the PNP’s candidate for the St Andrew Southern constituency. (Photos: Naphtali Junior)

People’s National Party supporters hail the president of the party, Mark Golding, during nomination day activities on Monday. (Naphtali Junior)

A People’s National Party supporter enjoys the company of Jamaica Labour Party supporters in Wilton Gardens, St Andrew Southern, on Monday. (Naphtali Junior)

Carlton Allen (second left), the Jamaica Labour Party candidate for St Andrew Southern, is accompanied by supporters on his way to the nomination centre at St Luke’s Church, Cross Roads, on Monday.