Vaz pushing for quick return to Parliament

SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Westmoreland Central Dwayne Vaz does not mince words when asked to comment on the performance of the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) George Wright in the constituency.

According to Vaz, the man who beat him in the 2020 General Election has been “an absolute failure to the people of Central Westmoreland”.

Vaz, who is seeking to reclaim the seat on a People’s National Party (PNP) ticket, said his political journey has always been driven by his passion for people and representation.

“From my days in school I served in leadership positions, and after college I joined the Social Development Commission (SDC) where I realised how much I enjoyed working directly with communities,” Vaz told the
Jamacia Observer.

“It was a no-brainer for me to join the People’s National Party. The PNP’s philosophy of democratic socialism aligns with my values, which, of course, focuses on creating opportunities for the masses of our people, to move them up the social ladder and that will close the gap between the haves and the have-nots,” added Vaz who has been active in politics in Westmoreland Central for more than 20 years, having joined the PNP Youth Organisation in 2003.

He credits this involvement with giving him a deep understanding of the constituency’s needs.

“When you really go into the communities and see the conditions people live under, it changes your perspective. That is why decision-making in politics is so important,” said Vaz.

The former MP told the Observer that the pressing needs he has identified for the constituency include infrastructure upgrade; land and housing regularisation; education and job creation; health care at the Savanna-la-Mar Public General Hospital; sports and entertainment development; agricultural revitalisation; and tourism investments.

“When I was MP, I built multi-purpose courts across the constituency, and introduced sporting competitions that kept youth engaged and communities together.” Vaz shared, “Since I left office, all of those initiatives have stopped. People keep calling me, asking when they will return.”

He said there were several other accomplishments during his tenure as MP which he remains proud of. Vaz said these include the rehabilitation of the Ferris to McField road, restoration of water to Holly Hill, the construction of four houses for needy residents, and the development of multi-purpose sports courts across the constituency.

Vaz also pointed to his lobbying efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic when “small business owners were being forced to close while large franchises remained open”.

“I listened to the people, stood in Parliament, and defended them. As a result, bars, cook shops, and small groceries were allowed to reopen. That was because I was engaged with the people,” declared Vaz who enters the September 3 General Election with the party’s slogan, ‘Time Come’, being bellowed across the constituency which has long been considered a PNP stronghold.

“Time Come to get back on track with development plans that were shelved after we lost Government. Time Come for a Government with integrity and passion to lead this country. Time Come to ease the pressure, because Jamaica can’t tek it no more,” said Vaz.

He pointed out that if re-elected his top priorities would be infrastructure improvements, land and housing solutions, education, training, and job creation.

The PNP standard-bearer said in recent times he has hosted several job fairs even though he was not the sitting MP and “if you check my track record versus the present MP, who has had his Government in power, there is no comparison”.

According to Vaz, “When it comes to roads, housing, land issues, sports, or entertainment, the results under my leadership speak for themselves. George Wright has been an absolute failure to the people of Westmoreland.”

As voters prepare to decide, Vaz is banking on his record of community engagement, his vision for development, and his firm belief in democratic socialism to bring Westmoreland Central back into the PNP’s win column.

Vaz secured the seat in a December 1, 2014 by-election, winning convincingly with about 58 per cent of the votes. He retained the seat during the 2016 General Election, serving until 2020 when he lost to Wright by more than 1,000 votes.

In April 2024, the Integrity Commission referred Vaz for prosecution under the Integrity Commission Act, citing his failure to fully submit required financial declarations for 2019.

Vaz publicly stated his commitment to transparency and claimed to have complied with the law, engaging fully with legal processes. He later pleaded guilty and was fined $250,000 in June 2024, which he paid.

Now Vaz enters the September 3 General Election confident that it was just a short break and he will be back in Gordon House after the votes are counted.