JLP’s western dominance faces stern test today
Published:Wednesday | September 3, 2025 | 12:10 AMAdrian Frater/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Though it represents just 16 per cent of the electorate, western Jamaica is once again expected to play a crucial role in determining the outcome of today’s general election. With 12 seats spread across Hanover, Westmoreland, St James, and Trelawny, both the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP) have poured significant resources into the region, long viewed as a national bellwether.
The JLP, which swept all 12 western seats in 2020 on the way to a commanding 49-14 national win, is now facing renewed pressure from the PNP. The Opposition has been buoyed by a strong showing in the 2024 local government elections, where it won 27 of western 47 divisions, including a 7-0 sweep in Hanover.
Still, JLP Deputy Leader Dr Horace Chang remains confident. Aiming for another 5-0 sweep today in St James, the JLP’s western stronghold, Chang has dismissed talk of a PNP resurgence.
But PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell sees a shift coming. Energised by what he describes as growing enthusiasm in the west, Campbell is optimistic that the party will break the JLP’s stranglehold, despite St James East Central and Chang’s own St James North Western being widely considered out of the PNP’s grasp.
Pundits consider two of St James’ seats – West Central and South – particularly vulnerable. In West Central, the JLP’s Marlene Malahoo Forte faces another challenge from the PNP’s Dr Andre Haughton. The PNP won St James West Central in 2011 when Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams (6,198) defeated Clive Mullings (5,535). In 2016, Malahoo Forte defeated Ffolkes-Abrahams (6,589-5,310), and then Haughton, in 2020 (6,144-4,389). However, recent momentum suggests a tighter race.
ST JAMES SOUTH VOTING STATS
In St James South, where the PNP’s Derrick Kellier ruled supreme between 1989 and 2020, the JLP finally took the seat when Kellier retired and handed the reins to Dr Walton Small in 2020. The JLP’s Homer Davis, who narrowly lost to Kellier by a 6,236-6,164 margin in 2016, blew away Small in 2020 (7,223-5,275).
Davis will go up against the dynamic PNP newcomer Nekeisha Burchell this time around. Burchell, a native of the area with growing popularity, is expected to offer strong resistance. Still, the battle-tested Davis, a former Montego Bay mayor, could well withstand the challenge.
In Hanover, the PNP has momentum following its 2024 local sweep. In Eastern Hanover, the JLP’s Dave Brown is seen as being quite strategic, having masterminded victories against the PNP’s Wynter McIntosh (6,388-6,023) in 2016 and Wavell Hinds (5,972-4,377) in 2020. However, Brown’s opponent today, newcomer Andrea Purkiss, is believed to have the capacity to upstage him. In addition to being a Hanover native, she has a solid reputation as a philanthropist, which endeared her to many long before her entry into politics.
In Hanover Western, the battle between the lawyers, the JLP’s Tamika Davis, who is seeking a second term, and PNP newcomer Heatha Miller-Bennett, should be interesting. Davis brushed aside PNP heavyweight Ian Hayles 6,008-4987 in 2020. However, Miller-Bennett has picked up solid traction in her campaign and looks a worthy contender.
In Westmoreland, once a PNP bastion, the JLP staged a shock 3-0 sweep in 2020. However, the PNP has since regrouped, replacing losing candidates with high-profile figures like Dayton Campbell in Westmoreland Eastern and Hayles in Westmoreland Western.
Still, the JLP is optimistic. George Wright, despite controversy, is aiming to retain Westmoreland Central over the PNP’s Dwayne Vaz. Dr Garfield James will contest Westmoreland Western, replacing Morland Wilson, while Daniel Lawrence – who defeated Luther Buchanan by just 18 votes in 2020 – will try to fend off Campbell in the Eastern battle.
In Trelawny, where the JLP currently holds sway with Tova Hamilton in the North and Marisa Dalrymple Philibert in the South, keen contests are anticipated. The existing JLP machinery in the North was primarily built by former candidate Dennis Meadows, who has since switched to the PNP and is believed to have carried over some of his old supporters, who are now supporting the PNP’s candidate, Dr Wykeham McNeill.
In the South, the PNP’s Paul Patmore, who is arguably the most popular businessman in that section of the parish, enjoys love that has spread outside the realms of politics, which has given him significant traction, including from traditional JLP supporters. However, Dalrymple Philibert, who has won three general elections and one by-election in the constituency since 2011, knows the constituency and is expected to be up for the challenge.