Two Jamaicans living abroad with sharply contrasting views of the country were among those who travelled home to vote on Wednesday, adamant to exercise their franchise in the nation’s 19th general election.

Shantel Miller, who lives in Florida in the United States, and Damion Higgins, now resident in Cuba, support the People’s National Party (PNP) and Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), respectively. Both cast their ballots in St Thomas Eastern and see the country though different lenses.

Miller, who told the Jamaica Observer that she migrated last November, believes that Dr Michelle Charles, who won the seat in the last general election, has failed to deliver.

“When they [Jamaica Labour Party] won, a lot of promises were made to us in this community [Lyssons] and the community that I live in. I no longer reside here, I live in Dalvey. A lot of promises were made, and they are not fulfilled,” she told the Observer.

“If they carry out some of their promises, it’s one-sided. Jamaica is one country. The division doesn’t make sense, and it’s too obvious with this Government. With this Member of Parliament segregation is too obvious here, and we need it to stop. Not because I’m P or J, it shouldn’t make a difference, I’m a Jamaican. If you have opportunity for youth, all youth should benefit, not just one side. If you see somebody qualified for a job, don’t say, ‘Oh, your parents are P so I can’t help you, I have to look out for persons that vote for me’,” she argued.

However, Higgins, who migrated six years ago, said the development taking place in St Thomas was worth the trip from Guantánamo Bay to cast a vote for it to continue.

“Right now, nobody nuh fi vote for PNP inna St Thomas because from the whole 18 years me see PNP a run Jamaica them never do anything for St Thomas and me see Labourite come in one little time and do a lot, so me affi say Labourite,” Higgins told the Observer.

He said that while he does not live in Jamaica, he is still a Jamaican who has the right to exercise his civic duty, and he will not miss an opportunity to do so.

“I booked my ticket to come down from last month, but when I hear the election date I extended it and stay back little longer and get to come,” he said.

“We want progress. We nuh want nobody come stop weh a gwaan fi start a new something… we a vote for progress and a that me wah see happen,” he said.

Charles won St Thomas Eastern in 2020, following in the footsteps of her father, Pearnel Charles Sr.

In Wednesday’s election Charles faced Yvonne Shaw, former mayor of Morant Bay, and independent candidate Claudius Wong.

Damion Higgins, who lives in Cuba, shows that he voted for Dr Michelle Charles in St Thomas Eastern on Wednesday. Higgins said he had to come home to vote to ensure that the development taking place in the parish continues. (Photos: Garfield Robinson)

People’s National Party and Jamaica Labour Party supporters embrace in a show of friendship in Lyssons, St Thomas Eastern, on election day, September 3, 2025.

People’s National Party supporter Janice Brown of Leith Hall St Thomas is upbeat during voting in the parish on Wednesday.