ALBERT TOWN, Trelawny — Noting the strong bond between herself and her constituents, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) winning candidate for Trelawny Southern, attorney-at-law Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, says a combination of mutual love and consistent performance is the formula behind her fifth consecutive victory in the constituency.

Preliminary counts showed that she tallied 6,832 votes to the People’s National Party’s (PNP) Paul Patmore’s 5,215. The seat had been one to watch in the just-concluded national poll as pundits speculated that Dalrymple-Philibert’s past woes with the Integrity Commission (IC) could have hurt her chances of re-election.

“What this victory in South Trelawny tells me is that performance truly matters, determination matters, and really and truly, true leadership is measured by the results and the love that you as a leader have for your people. They love me, but I truly love them. I enjoy serving them and I will continue to serve them because the win for me is not about looking back, it’s about looking forward,” an upbeat Dalrymple-Philibert told the Jamaica Observer Thursday.

“As our Prime Minister Dr Andrew Michael Holness said, we are now looking at another five years of service; another five years to continue the progress, to continue building on the foundation and joy — and I thank them for journeying with me,” she added.

Dalrymple-Philibert, who has represented Trelawny Southern since 2011, underscored that for more than 18 years she has built a foundation of family, loyalty, and trust with her constituents. She expressed confidence that under a JLP Government led by Holness, both the constituency and Jamaica will move forward.

“In South Trelawny I don’t look at the people as my supporters, they are my family. And like any true family they have been the wind beneath my wings. They have given me the strength and the encouragement and the determination to keep going despite all that has been thrown at us. And truly, the trust the people of South Trelawny have placed in me all these years shows that I have worked with them. We have worked beside each other, side by side, to improve the lives of the people in our communities and we have sought to build a better future for our people here,” she said.

“I have family, good family — mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, my family — here in South Trelawny, and I feel great pride and joy,” she added.

In underscoring the bond, Dalrymple-Philibert recalled withdrawing from the constituency for about 17 months after resigning in the wake of charges being laid by the IC. During that period she closed her office and avoided contact with constituents. According to her, she only returned to support JLP councillors in the February 2024 local government elections, in which the party secured all four divisions in the constituency.

She also reflected on her by-election campaign, which she said carried unique challenges as it was held on a Friday, a traditional market day for her predominantly farming supporters. But she still prevailed.

“When I say I have family in South Trelawny, it’s real, and it is not a make believe thing,” she boasted.

Looking ahead, the veteran politician, affectionately called Mama D, pledged to focus on two priorities: water and roads.

“I can tell you now, and I say it without fear at all, my leader knows; I am looking forward in this new fifth term to all water projects being addressed. Water is life. South Trelawny needs the attention. We need water. I stand with the people, and I know my prime minister stands with them. That’s what I said to them, ‘Give him a chance, he has started the journey,’ when he announced the election. We are part of that journey. We will have water,” she argued.

“The second project that I’m interested in is our roads. There are roads that must be addressed. We know Rome was not built in a day, and I said to my people, the prime minister is doing a lot for Jamaica. We have got a lot in South, but we need more. I know he will do more. He asked us for the time, we have given it to him. So those are my two main priorities,” she added.

Meanwhile, Patmore, who thanked all who supported his losing bid, vowed on Thursday not to abandon the constituency.

“I’m here to represent the people. South Trelawny is my home. I’m not a just-come or somebody passing through. I’ve been representing the people of South Trelawny for the past 30 years. I never leave them nor forsake them no matter what. You don’t have to be an MP to represent the people. I’ve been speaking on their behalf for the past 30 years. An MP’s status might give you more opportunities, but I’m here. I’m here to represent the people,” he told the Observer.

“I just want to say thanks to the people, and I will look forward to their continuous support. We just know that the people have spoken and we have to respect the choice that the people have made. I promised water. They seem to say they don’t want water. I promised them roads, they don’t want roads; I promised them light and hospital, they don’t need that. So they have five years to just live with what they have now, and, hopefully, within the next five years, I’ll be around to make a change still. During my time now, for the next five years, maybe as caretaker for South Trelawny, I should be able to still make some changes,” he added.

But for JLP supporter Noeline Bailey, Dalrymple-Philibert’s victory was well deserved.

“From Andrew call it, mi tell them say me and my MP a go back a Parliament. She haffi go back up there. Mama D put in the work. She is the best representative for Trelawny Southern. And we nah stop put her deh until the day she ready to go home. My MP, Mrs Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert, is the best representative for South Trelawny; mi don’t have nobody else, and we work,” Bailey said.

People’s National Party supporters under a tent outside Troy All-Age School on election day.

PATMORE… vowed not to abandon the constituency

Member of Parliament-elect Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert (third right, second row) celebrates with supporters in Albert Town Square on Wednesday night.

DALRYMPLE-PHILIBERT… the win for me is not about looking back, it’s about looking forward (Horace Hines)