WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — Three days following an unsuccessful attempt at becoming the Member of Parliament (MP) for Westmoreland Eastern, independent candidate Derrick ‘Black X’ Robinson, now has his eyes set on walking more than 100 miles as he pays tribute to those who voted for him, among other reasons.

At the end of polls on Wednesday, Black X obtained a preliminary vote of 11.

Preliminary votes also indicated that the MP-elect Dr Dayton Campbell who is the general secretary of the People’s National Party (PNP) secured 7,558 votes while his opponent from the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Daniel Lawrence, who is now the former MP, received 5,624 votes.

Black X, who had his larynx surgically removed due to tumor, said his journey of gratitude on foot will commence on Saturday in Westmoreland.

“Tomorrow, September 6 will see me starting a six-day walk from the Bethel Town Post Office taking the North Coast route to the Tacky Monument in St Mary,” stated Black X.

The 11 votes received by Block X are one more than the 10 he said “very special Facebook friends,” suggested he would receive.

“A genuine great big thank you to my 11 voters! I will via the St Mary Junction Route, continue this walk to finish at the Hope Road Gate of Jamaica House on Thursday the 11th as a ‘mighty big thank you to the 11 persons who voted for me in this election,” stated Black X.

When asked what is the purpose of the stop at the Hope Road Gate of Jamaica House, Black X replied that this is symbolic of the solidarity for achievements made in the fight against crime.

Black X is the founder of the 20-year-old Tacky Heritage Foundation and is an advocate for Tacky to be made a national hero.

For the last two decades, as part of his advocacy for Tacky to be named a national hero, Robinson has walked barefooted to various locations across Jamaica with a 30-pound chain around his neck.

On October 20, his birthday, Robinson will be at King’s House to receive a Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service in recognition of his role in the preservation of Jamaican history through the works of the Tacky Heritage Foundation.

— Anthony Lewis.