TRELAWNY, Jamaica — Leroy Dackie is wheelchair-bound, but he was adamant that his physical challenge would not prevent him from casting his vote for People’s National Party (PNP) candidate Paul Patmore, who is seeking to unseat incumbent Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert in Trelawny Southern.

Observer Online caught up with Dackie as an orange-clad Comrade navigated his wheelchair through heavy traffic in Wait-a-Bit, on his way to a polling station in the constituency.

“From you see me come out in me wheelchair today, that signify say we mean business. So we just going put the X beside the head and do it for Mr Paul Patmore,” said Dackie.
Confined to a wheelchair for the past 11 years following a construction site accident, he stressed that his disability would never deter him from supporting his party.
“This don’t hold me from vote. From it name PNP me have to be out there to vote. I can never make an X for a Labourite; I have to make it for the PNP because I am a true born Michael Manley Socialist,” he declared.

Dackie explained that he has consistently supported the PNP through its leadership changes over the years.

“Me a vote from [former PNP presidents] PJ [Patterson] days, from Portia [Simpson Miller], Peter Phillips come right down,” he said.

He expressed strong confidence in Patmore’s campaign.

“Today we come out in our tens of thousands to support one Sir Paul Patmore for South Trelawny. Time come! We need a change in South Trelawny and nothing naw go on,” Dackie added.