Rain affects election victory parades in western Jamaica

WESTERN BUREAU:

Rainy weather on Thursday put a damper on some planned victory celebrations in western Jamaica following Wednesday’s general election.

The parades and motorcades fizzled as only a few supporters of successful candidates turned out across the region to celebrate their candidates’ win and the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) 34 to 29 win over the People’s National Party’s (PNP).

Nekeisha Burchell, who won the St James Southern seat, becoming the first woman to do so, said that, although she had intended to conduct a thank-you tour in her constituency, the rainy weather conditions made it necessary to reschedule.

“I actually wanted to be in the constituency now, but the rain has held us back. I wanted to do the thank-you tour, and they are waiting for me, but I cannot come out,” said Burchell. “To my family in South St James, I have to think about you, as I do not want you to get sick. So I want you to stay tuned and I will send more information as to when we will celebrate.”

A handful of supporters turned out at the constituency office of the JLP’s Marlene Malahoo Forte, who was victorious in St James West Central. Although a stage was erected, there was no activity there. Those present told The Gleaner that the MP designate was out on the road doing in-person meetings but they could not say exactly where she was.

“Mrs Malahoo Forte is gone on the road in her division to talk with people, but I do not know if she is doing something today. This set-up here is from last night [Wednesday],” one supporter told The Gleaner.

Efforts to contact Edmund Bartlett, who retained the James East Central seat for the JLP, were unsuccessful. However, no activities were observed in the key locations in the constituency, such as Adelphi, Orange, and Irwin.

Meanwhile, checks by The Gleaner revealed that the weather had affected some planned celebrations in Hanover, necessitating their rescheduling. Trelawny was likewise affected, with reported plans for the Trelawny Northern constituency, heralded by the JLP’s Tova Hamilton, being particularly impacted.

However, in Westmoreland, a PNP motorcade was observed in support of Westmoreland Central’s Dwayne Vaz, who braved the weather to celebrate his victory over the JLP’s George Wright.

“We decided to do a thank-you tour today, and, even though it is raining, we went all-out straight through the weather, because we always say ‘shower’ cannot stop ‘power’,” said Vaz, referencing the JLP’s and PNP’s respective campaign slogans.

chistopher.thomas@gleanerjm