Assamba

OCHO RIOS, St. Ann:

Having won three of the four St. Ann constituencies in 2002, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) now feels it has a shot at doing the unthinkable: making a clean sweep of the garden parish in the upcoming election.

And why not? With almost every poll showing the JLP comfortably ahead in North East and South West St. Ann, and a little outside the margin of error but still in the lead in north west St. Ann, Belmont Road is now buzzing with excitement, convinced that the People's National Party (PNP) stronghold and sacred ground of south east St. Ann is well within reach.

"That indeed would be a sad day," commented Lloyd Garrick, PNP councillor for the Moneague Division in south east St. Ann. "This constituency is a model for all comrades throughout Jamaica. This is the one constituency the JLP has never won and we want to keep it that way."

Tourism Minister and the sitting Member of Parliament (MP), Aloun Assamba, has decided against seeking re-election. Her decision was due largely to intense pressure from her former supporters, who decried her performance as MP. They claimed that she had lost the confidence of the people and was almost certainly heading for defeat at the poll.

"This is a critical seat for the party, which is why Mrs. Assamba had to go," explained Lydia Richards, PNP councillor for the Bensonton Division.

But with the governing party yet to find a replacement and the JLP's Peter Fakhourie energised and buoyed by the fact that he is currently the only political game in town, there is a growing number of pundits who now feel that south east St. Ann, if anything, is no longer a lock for the PNP.

"This is no longer outside the realm of possibilities," commented St. Ann businessman and PNP supporter Richard Taylor. "Mr. Fakhourie has learnt a lot from his sister over there in north east St. Ann and has been capitalising on the mistakes of Mrs. Assamba. He grew up in this constituency and regardless of his party colours, is a well-liked individual." Mr. Fakhourie is the brother of Shahine Robinson, JLP MP for north east St. Ann.

Mr. Fakhourie, who lost the October 2002 election by some 3,000 votes, said his job was to convince the people of south east St. Ann that the JLP is the better alternative and deserves a chance to show what true representation is all about.

Working for the people

For JLP Senator Anthony Johnson, it is all about taking the message to the people. "We tell all our candidates the same thing: 'Get the people to love you and they will carry you home safely,'" argued Johnson. he added: "Look at north east St. Ann. It was once considered a safe PNP seat but look at what Shahine Robinson has done. There is also the case of Audley Shaw's seat over there in north east Manchester and also west Kingston before Edward Seaga got there. There are seats out there that were considered strongholds for the PNP that the JLP can now take."

Former caretaker for north east St. Ann - and one of the names being considered as a replacement for Mrs. Assamba in south east St. Ann - Carol Jackson said that once everything is settled, the PNP should have no problem moving forward. "I have no problem with the bleeding process taking place," she said. "It is a case of what the people want. We cannot force ourselves on the people; we have to give them what they want. What is happening now in the PNP will soon be over and we will be better and stronger for it."

- G.D.