SAVANNA LA MAR, Westmoreland — Voters started queuing at polling stations as early as 6:50 am in Westmoreland Central which is being contested by Kathleen Greenwood of the Jamaica Progressive Party (JPP), Dwayne Vaz of the People’s National Party (PNP), George Wright of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), and independent candidate Don Foote.

While some supporters of both parties have been declaring confidence of victory, others are cautious, stating that the contest will be tight.

Notably, there has been a balance of green- and orange-clad voters at each polling station.

The town of Savanna-la-Mar is generally calm, while there is an absence of supporters at the constituency offices of both the JLP and PNP. Additionally, shopping plazas that are usually full to capacity have a few cars.

Motorists and pedestrians are being advised to take precaution as several motor vehicles and motorcycles have been seen driving recklessly on the road.

Vaz, who voted about 9:30 am, said the voting process was smooth for him. He also that his supporters “are coming out in their numbers and they want a change”.

One such individual was Ivah Jackson, a resident of Wharf Road in Smithfield.

“As you know, today is election, and we all are interested in election because we tiad a Andrew Holness,” she told the Jamaica Observer.

“Today is Mark Golding day. Today is a new day. A years mi nuh vote. Mi miss how much election. Never interested. I been back on the island a little while now and mi haffi vote because we tiad fi suffer,” she said.

Once considered a safe seat for the PNP, Westmoreland Central was turned on its head in the last general election when Wright polled more than 8,000 votes to secure victory.

— Rosalee Wood Condell