MONTEGO BAY, St James — As nomination day took shape in St James Central Monday it became clear that candidates of the two major political parties had the support of many family members.

The Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Heroy Clarke, the incumbent, spoke of how pleased he was that his daughter, Aaliyah, was again at his side during the process.

“I’m feeling very great to know that she was born in it; she has always been by my side 100 per cent. She is always ready and waiting to get going,” he declared.

Clarke’s wife, Patrice, was also present.

Hs opponent, Janice Allen, who is representing the People’s National Party (PNP), also had family members providing support.

“My mother is here with me, my sister is here with me, my uncle is here. The only person missing is my father but I know he is watching and is very pleased with this moment right now,” she declared.

Her father, the late Glover Allen, was a political representative at the local government level for the PNP during the 1970s and early 80s.

“He started the journey as a councillor in the Granville Division in what was then called St James Central and today I am the candidate for the constituency of St James Central; so this is a big moment,” Allen declared.

Both she and Clarke appeared to have received a boost from having family on hand.

“I am 100 per cent confident knowing very well that my team has put in the work that we are asked to do. And so we continue, even then, to do more work because we know exactly what we are up against and therefore we are not taking anything for granted,” Clarke stated.

After an unsuccessful try in 2011, Clarke won the seat twice; first in 2016, then again in 2020. He is hoping for a third-consecutive win.

“The people of St James Central have spoken on more than one occasion and they have said, ‘Heroy Clarke, you are the person for us’. We continue to do that work and so today we are nominated to make sure that on the third of September everything is said and done,” Clarke declared.

He explained what he will do in the weeks leading up to the general election to hold onto the seat for the JLP.

“House-to-house peaceful campaigning, peaceful canvassing and in anything that we are going to be doing, we are going to be doing it in a peaceful and disciplined manner,” said Clarke.

Allen was similarly confident in her chances of entering Gordon House following the election.

“The work that we will see in the next 16 days will take us across the finish line first and cause me to be the new Member of Parliament for St James Central. That is when real representation will begin for the constituency,” she said.

“I am very excited, I’m energised, I am raring to go because this is a big moment,” she added.

She went over a few of her plans for the constituency, if elected.

“In Rose Heights alone, there are four decommissioned reservoir tanks that I will put back into commission because that will aid in the distribution when supplies are low; that’s a priority for me,” Allen stated.

“Also of priority is the development of community spaces. Too many communities have insufficient recreational community spaces for the old and the young. In a constituency that is so tightly packed as St James Central, these are some of the issues that must be addressed. We must provide social spaces for people to grow and really develop their communities,” she added.

Among those supporting Jamaica Labour Party candidate for St James Central, Heroy Clarke (centre), on nomination day are his daughter Aaliyah (fifth left) and wife Patrice (fourth right), beside Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon (fifth right).