KINGSTON, Jamaica — Long-time Member of Parliament for Portland Western, Daryl Vaz, has revealed that the upcoming September 3 General Election will be his last.

“This will be my last election, I am 62 years old,” said Vaz, speaking on the CVM at Sunrise Summer Vibes show.

“I have four grandchildren and one on the way, so the little time I have left I want to spend it as best as possible to make up for the lost time with my family,” Vaz explained.

Vaz, who has been in representational politics since 1986, Member of Parliament for Portland Western since 2007, and who now serves as Minister of Transport, detailed his long days, which he says have only gotten more hectic.

“As you know, we are in the [election] season now, so it is an 18-hour day, starting at 6:00 in the morning until whatever time at night,” he said.

Maintaining that the most rewarding part of the job has been to serve the constituency of Portland Western and that heading the Transport Ministry was the most exciting part of his portfolio, he explained: “Truth be told, I am passionate about the work that I do. I love to serve, I love to get results, especially when you’re serving a constituency and you have the privilege to be a minister of government.”

Vaz added that his least favourite part, is the “underbelly of politics”, which he said included personal attacks against him.

“There’s nothing in the world that has not been said about me, but when you believe in God and you do what you have to do, you overcome,” he said.