Residents in Portland Eastern voiced frustration over the cancellation of the annual Boston Jerk and Music Festival, saying the community lost millions in revenue. They stressed that the event usually supports back-to-school expenses, boosts small businesses, and draws tourists, and its absence has left the parish struggling financially.

Land, loss and loyalty

Portland Eastern electors explain Vaz’s rejection and Buchanan’s crowning

Jamaica Gleaner/7 Sep 2025/Kimone Francis Senior Staff Reporter

RAW EMOTIONS surged through Portland Eastern, days after the general election, with People’s National Party (PNP) supporters and some independents declaring emphatically that the rejection of Ann-Marie Vaz was in their best interest.

Attorney-at-law Isat Buchanan, the PNP candidate, narrowly unseated the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Vaz, the immediate former member of parliament, securing 8,316 votes in the preliminary count to Vaz’s 8,181, in an election marked by land tenure concerns and socio-economic challenges.

Despite its reputation for peaceful living, lush scenery, and vibrant green tourism, an undercurrent of tension gripped the area on Friday, rooted in longstanding local grievances and the narrow electoral result.

“Most people, you see, them say if Labourite win, them a go take we off the land. So that in them mind. Them have that inna them system seh Labourite always take people off of land,” JLP supporter Byron Flemmings told The Sunday Gleaner on Friday.

Seated on a chair on the soft shoulder of Long Road finishing up a meal, Flemmings revealed that he is a squatter, pointing to land directly across from him which he said he has occupied for more than two decades undisturbed.

He was struck by disbelief and disappointment, when the votes were tallied two days earlier on September 3 and Vaz fell short by 135 ballots.

“Action Ann work too hard fi them vote her out because most of the roads in we area fix. You see where me live, is a capture land. So we have issues ‘bout land. But nobody never come to me and say them a move me from there,” he said.

“PNP win in this area on the land issue because them say them a go give the land. But I’m saying Labourite nor PNP never trouble we for the land or run we, but because PNP know them can win with the land, them always come with that issue,” Flemmings said.

The PNP had promised in its manifesto to amend the Limitations of Actions Act, reducing the 60-year requirement for squatters to claim land to 25 years. Meanwhile, the JLP pledged to distribute 25,000 land titles annually through a new Systematic Land Registration programme.

At Buchanan’s campaign base in Port Antonio, several supporters expressed determination to remove Vaz, seeing Buchanan’s victory as a beacon of hope for resolving the persistent land issues.

“This is a PNP column for more than 30 years. So we couldn’t allow them (JLP) fi rule we. One of the biggest problem we have, them want to take away the whole a we seaside. Even right in front Gungo Lane. A man there for 60 years and me and him a talk yesterday and him a say it hard for him fi be there for 60 years and somebody a come get it because them give him notice fi move. Everybody pon the seaside get notice. Even the craft market they want to take away,” said Andrew Scott, a middleaged man who was seated among the group of people.

Most people, you see, them say if Labourite win, them a go take we off the land. So that in them mind. Them have that inna them system seh Labourite always take people off of land.”

It’s the first year in Port Antonio we don’t have Jerk Festival. We don’t get the permit for the festival. You know how much money East Portland lose? People would have money now circulating in East Portland to send their kids back to school.”

– Eleise Brown from Port Antonio

For Okeino Passely, a young man seated among them who appeared to be no older than 30, a vote for Vaz would be a vote against his interest.

For him and others, they felt threatened and were unable to shake the feeling that they were losing their hometown to special interests in the shadows.

“People like fi have a sense of ownership. When you going to try and root up people from that type of feeling, people a go fight back and that is what reach them,” he said, with support from Scott and a middle-aged woman, who gave her name as Eleise Brown.

According to Scott, it is Buchanan’s defence of persons at the Boston Jerk

Centre why operations continue at the popular food spot.

In October 2024, the Portland Health Services ordered the closure of the centre amid reported issues with some food vendors that required various interventions.

Dr Sharon Lewis, medical officer of health for Portland, said there were improvements after the interventions but noted that they were short-lived. On September 6, last year, three of the four jerk stalls were closed due to breaches, while the other was closed a few weeks later.

“Them do everything fi run weh the people them. Them tell you say get this list, you get it; them come back with a next list the next day. Every time you meet up with them, them have a next thing for you. So that mean say them a get rid of you, enuh. Is Isat make the people them get back Boston,” Scott said.

They decried the absence of the long-established Boston Jerk and Music Festival – put on by businessman and former PNP caretaker for Portland Eastern Colin ‘Shakka Fame’ Bell – which is customarily held in July.

Brown, who chimed in as the group defended their decision to vote against Vaz, said for many, the festival served as a source of income, which funded back-toschool expenses for many families.

“It’s the first year in Port Antonio we don’t have Jerk Festival. We don’t get the permit for the festival. You know how much money East Portland lose? People would have money now circulating in East Portland to send their kids back to school. People borrowed money from the bank. Everybody depend pon this thing,” Brown explained.

“It’s the first no Jerk Festival because it’s not benefitting her? No, she doesn’t own East Portland. She had to come down,” she added.

She said Bell promotes the festival overseas, drawing tourists to the constituency to occupy small hotels, guest houses and Airbnbs, generating income.

“Nothing happened. The parish dry because of the member of parliament. No Jerk Festival. Every member of parliament have to give us road, water and light. That is a necessity. The road was here before her,” Brown said.

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