MONTEGO BAY, St James — Buoyed by recent opinion polls, Opposition leader and president of the People’s National Party (PNP), Mark Golding has expressed confidence that his party will take control of the St James Municipal Corporation in the next local government election.

He is convinced that young PNP candidates will be able to ride the tide of the momentum and swing voters to the party.

“We have some really good young candidates and I think they are going to excite voters with their message and their plans. They are going to work hard, and I think the general swing to the People’s National Party — which is evident in the polls — will help to carry them,” Golding said.

He was speaking with reporters following a party meeting inside the Montego Bay High School auditorium in St James on Sunday night, when he introduced PNP candidates from the parish for both local and general elections.

Following the last local government election in 2016 the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) won 13 of the 17 divisions while the PNP copped four.

However, the PNP’s Gladston Bent of the Catadupa Division and Sylvan Reid of the Salt Spring Division were ousted from the municipal corporation three years ago.

The JLP is also in control of all five constituencies within the parish.

On Sunday, Golding reflected on the days when the PNP dominated the parish and promised the party is now poised to rebound.

While he was brimming with confidence that a change is coming, the PNP leader charged Comrades not to become complacent but instead put in the work until they cross the finish line.

“It is not hype do this thing, you know, is hard work do it. Every candidate get on the ground, do your canvass, meet the voters, find out who’s going to come and vote for you, prepare your PNP list, be well organised so on election day you know what you doing and you execute a plan — because a victory we a deal wid for the people,” he said from the platform.

“Comrades, Jamaica wants to see the back of this Government and we the People’s National Party are building… momentum. Forward to victory!” he added.

He expressed his delight at the strong turnout of party supporters at Sunday night’s meeting.

“What a night! I feel a different energy coming out of St James. I feel it,” Golding said on the platform.

“The momentum is growing; this is a very impressive crowd. I wasn’t expecting nothing like this. The energy was incredible. It was almost the same feeling like annual conference in the [National] Arena,” he told reporters.

Prime Minister Andrew Holness has indicated that the local government election will be held by February next year.

The Government postponed the election for a third time when the Bill allowing for the delay was passed in both Houses of Parliament in February this year.