TRELAWNY, Jamaica — When the 146 polling stations across the constituency of Trelawny Northern close at 5:00 pm on Wednesday, incumbent Member of Parliament for the constituency Tova Hamilton, will be hoping that electors gave her the nod to continue her stewardship of the constituency for another five years.

Hamilton, an attorney-at- law, was a surprise winner in the 2020 General Election when she defeated the People’s National Party’s Victor Wright by 1,761 votes in the seat that had been held by the PNP since 1989.

In the 2020 polls, there was a voter turnout of 44.39 per cent of the 35,004 constituents eligible to cast ballots.
The number of electors has since increased to 38, 311, and Hamilton, who is being challenged by the PNP’s Wykeham McNeill, a five- term MP in Westmoreland Western, believes that she has done enough work in the constituency over the last five years to deserve another term.

“My plans continue… we have started to recover Trelawny Northern, we have done quite a bit in road infrastructure, provided more water, free WiFi, lots of community developments… for us, it’s the continuation of a journey,” Hamilton said recently.

McNeill, who turns 68 next month was defeated by then political neophyte, the JLP’s Morland Wilson, by 1,053 votes, in the last general election.

Immediately, after his shock defeat, the former tourism minister announced his retirement from representational politics.

But less than two years ago he came out of retirement and announced his intention to contest the Trelawny Northern seat.

The decision , he said, was after discussions with the hierarchy of his party.

He stressed that the feedback to his decision has been tremendous.

If elected, he said, he plans to address the lack of potable water in the constituency, poor housing conditions, and education.

He highlighted that with his vast experience in the tourism sector, he is best suited to drive tourism-related developments in Trelawny.

“It’s a new frontier. The benefits to be had are tremendous, and I believe that with my experience, I can drive the process so that the people can benefit tremendously,” he argued.

After weeks of vigorous campaigning both candidates yesterday expressed confidence in winning the seat.

It’s now left to be seen who the electors will choose to run the political affairs of Trelawny Northern for another five years.

— Mark Cummings