SAVANNA-LA-MAR, Westmoreland — Dwayne Vaz yesterday retained the Central Westmoreland seat for his ruling People’s National Party (PNP), defeating his opponents Faye Reid-Jacobs of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and Independent Astor Black in a by-election which became necessary due to the sudden passing of Government minister Roger Clarke in August.
The 33-year-old Vaz amassed 8,720 votes, Reid-Jacobs polled 6,268, while Black got 58 votes.
Three ballots were rejected.
A total of 37,362 electors were registered to cast ballots in the by-election.
Yesterday’s poll was characterised by a low voter turnout of 38.2 per cent, according to the Electoral Office of Jamaica, a drop from the roughly 54 per cent turnout in the 2011 General Elections, which saw Clarke polling 11,564 votes to defeat his opponent, the JLP’s Marlene Malahoo Forte, who got 8,522 of the votes.
The by-election, the first to be held in the constituency, saw the lowest voter turnout ever in a contest for the parliamentary seat which was created in 1959.
Last night, an elated Vaz thanked hundreds of jubilant orange-clad supporters in Independence Park, Savanna-la-Mar, for having confidence in him to continue the work that was being done by Clarke and his predecessor, former Member of Parliament Karl Blythe.
“I guarantee you I will be continuing the work of the two great comrades,” said Vaz. “We are celebrating tonight, but the real work begins tomorrow morning (today). We all know that we have a lot to do. The community must have a say into what is happening in Central Westmoreland,” Vaz told his supporters.
PNP President Portia Simpson Miller, who also thanked the people of Central Westmoreland for their votes, expressed confidence that Vaz will make proper representation on their behalf.
She noted that during the campaign Vaz pointed out to her the need for the rehabilitation of a community centre in Hartford, as well as repairs to several roads in the constituency.
A disappointed JLP General Secretary Dr Horace Chang, in conceding defeat last night, told the Jamaica Observer that the PNP was able get out more of its diehard supporters than his party.
Chang said the JLP would be examining the results and would put in place strategies as it moves forward.
Polling yesterday got off to a slow start under bright skies in the constituency, which encompasses Westmoreland’s capital Savanna-la-Mar, Frome, Withorn, Petersfield, Cornwall Mountain, Haddo, Smithfield and several other small districts.
By midday, however, it became evident that thousands of the registered voters might not be participating in the electoral process.
Election Day workers complained that they had little or nothing to do, as supporters from both political parties trickled into most of the 160 polling stations. At times, Election Day workers out-numbered people who gathered at polling stations to cast their ballots.
Several young registered voters, who were observed studying at the Westmoreland Parish Library in Savanna-la-Mar, told the Observer that they were disenchanted with the political system, and as such were staying away from the polls.
Among them was Christina Campbell, a 24-year-old nursing student of Hatfield in the constituency. “I really don’t see any reason to vote,” said Campbell.
“I have seen no improvements in the constituency. The roads are not better, there are no job opportunities and right now politics is a big turn off for young people,” added Campbell, who said she voted in the 2011 General Elections.
Several other students, who said they voted in previous elections in the constituency, shared similar sentiments.
Elsewhere in the constituency, JLP and PNP officials worked feverishly to get their supporters to polling stations.
Some expressed confidence that their respective party would win the seat.
“We will definitely win. It will be a continuation of the power in Westmoreland,” said a PNP supporter in Savanna-la-Mar.
A JLP supporter in Petersfield disagreed.
“I have been living in Central Westmoreland for a very long time and I have not voted in years, but I have to go out today (yesterday) to register my protest against the present Government,” she told the Observer.
Director of Elections Orrette Fisher, meanwhile, said he was satisfied with the execution of the election.
“We had a good day. There was no incident that could have marred the day’s activities. The weather was good and the workers came out and they played their part. I am very happy; I am satisfied,” said Fisher.
Senior Superintendent of Police Glenford Hudson said, too, that the day went well, despite a few hiccups.
“There was no incident where anybody got injured or any skirmishes of any serious nature,” said Hudson.
He added, however, that in few cases overzealous party supporters had gathered too close to polling stations, “but we had no problems in sorting these out”.