Daraine Luton, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

Political watchers are suggesting that while George Lee may be re-elected Mayor of Portmore on a People's National Party (PNP) ticket, the municipality could go to the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) this time around.

There are 11 council seats being vied for by JLP and PNP candidates, and statistical and anecdotal evidence suggest that this will not be a walkover for either party.

In the 2003 Local Government Elections, the PNP won six of the 11 Portmore councils.

Statistical reversal

However, despite the PNP capturing all three parliamentary seats in the recently concluded September 3 general election, it won five councils, while the JLP won six - a statistical reversal of the 2003 results.

There are two key Portmore seats going into the election - Greater Portmore East, which the JLP won by one vote; and Bridgeport, which the JLP won by 24.

Fitz Jackson, the Member of Parliament for South St. Catherine, is confident that his constituency will return four of the five seats to the PNP.

Hellshire, Naggo Head, Greater Portmore East, Greater Portmore North and Braeton are the divisions in South St. Catherine.

"We are as resolute and determined to secure our victory as we have ever been before," Jackson tells The Sunday Gleaner.

"Portmore will remain with the People's National Party and we expect to do it with an increased margin of seats," Jackson adds.

Don't tell that to JLP deputy leader James Robertson, though. The JLP Area Council 2 chairman, who has responsibility for the parishes of St. Thomas, Portland, St. Mary and St. Catherine, is confident the JLP will prevail in Portmore.

"We have looked at the numbers coming out of the general election and we are confident. In St. Catherine the results are in our favour.

"We have done our homework, we will be bringing it home ... Keith Hinds will come home comfortably too," Robertson says.

Albeit by one vote, the JLP was victorious in the September 3 general election in the Greater Portmore East division. Raymond Green (JLP) and Yvonne McCormock (PNP) are the candidates registered there.

Green said that his party will win the division by more than 100 votes.

"They could hardly find someone and the victory will be more ominous. The writing is on the wall and they have been found wanting," Green says.

PNP walkover

For McCormock, a late addition to the PNP slate in Portmore, she won't be beaten.

"It is a walkover for the PNP. We are going to win it," she tells The Sunday Gleaner.

Another close race is expected to be the Bridgeport division where sitting councillor Horace 'Maggie' Brown is trying to hold on to the seat for the PNP. He won the seat in 2003 by 82 votes, but the PNP lost the division in the recent September 3 general election by 24 votes. Beverley Parague is the JLP candidate there.

"I am very confident ... (based on) the amount of work that we have put in, we know we are going to win. I am working hard enough for a 500-vote margin," Parague says.

Meanwhile, Jackson is promising to spring a surprise in Naggo Head, a division which the JLP won by 398 votes in the general election. Jefton Young is the PNP's candidate there, while Spanish Town's mayor, Dr. Andrew Wheatley, is carrying the JLP's flag.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com