Drama, some rain in Westmoreland
WESTMORELAND, Jamaica— There were moments of drama in sections of Westmoreland on Monday, with everything from complaints of intimidation to a candidate giving Electoral Office of Jamaica officials a lesson in how to correctly fold ballots.
In the afternoon there were also pockets of brief rainfall, but that did little to curb party supporters’ enthusiasm. The parish was being watched closely as those seeking a mandate to represent the electorate included at least two well-known turncoats, at least one independent, and a man who had left his hospital bed to get nominated on February 6.
Voting kicked off in the Sheffield Division quite early, with Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate Garfield James promptly out to cast his vote at Moreland Hill Primary School. James last year walked away from the People’s National Party (PNP) along with his colleagues Ian Myles and Lawton Mckenzie.
“I’m an educator and part of my thing is punctuality. Early voting is always the best way to go,” James told the Jamaica Observer in explaining why he cast his vote at the time he did.
Meanwhile, in Westmoreland Central the PNP’S Julian Chang complained of being intimidated by JLP supporters.
Chang has been working the seat for more than four years; she faced the polls for the first time against the JLP’S Lee Simpson.
Simpson won the division by 62 votes against the PNP’S Ian Myles, who last year joined the JLP, along with James.
“I feel intimidated,” Chang said as she awaited a police escort she had requested of officials at the Methodist Church Hall polling division in Little London.
JLP supporters, some of whom had already cast their votes, stood at the door as Chang was voting, shouting that her five minutes were up and she had overstayed her time. A downpour of rain did not serve as a deterrent and the police had to work tirelessly to get voters off the property.
During his time at the same location, the PNP’S Oliver Reid complained bitterly about how ballots were being folded, saying the process being used made it possible to tell how someone had voted. He then gave the presiding officer a lesson on the correct procedure.
His concern was met with pushback as the officer did not seem to agree with him.
The drama continued in Westmoreland for a couple hours after voting ended, with JLP workers at Little London Primary School complaining that it was taking too long to count ballots.
“When we go there the agents have a problem with the box; the envelope is not sealed,” JLP liaison officer Adeisha Myrie complained.