Manley memories drive PNP worker to bring out the vote
LIGHTHOUSE ROAD, EAST PORTLAND:
PASSIONATE ABOUT her role as assistant cluster manager, Tashana Watson, who hails from Lighthouse Road, a depressed community in East Portland, said she is inspired by nostalgia and her loyalty to the People’s National Party (PNP).
Watson, who explained that her role was to oversee affairs at the polling station, assist other workers, and ensure that voting progresses smoothly on election day, said she is committed to representing her party in the final push for votes.
The former poll clerk said she decided to join the PNP after hearing inspirational stories from residents in her community.
“Having heard from several persons that they acquired lands from the PNP, I decided that it was a good decision to join them,” said Watson.
“I took the decision to join the PNP from the age of 17 years in 2007. It was a decision that was made after I was confronted by a group of women who used cursing words while addressing me. Another thing that influenced my decision to join the PNP was that I was fed a bit of history about Michael Manley, who, according to older folks, was a good prime minister.”
Watson, who attends regular group meetings and has been on the campaign trail since the announcement of a by-election to replace slain Member of Parliament (MP) Dr Lynvale Bloomfield, is upbeat about her party’s chances in today’s vote.
“We have traversed the hills, valleys, highways and byways. As a worker in the PNP, whether you are a cluster manager, indoor agent, outdoor agent, or a runner, our service is highly needed and recognised as we are an integral part of the organisational structure,” Watson told The Gleaner.
“We are the ones finding the voters, identifying them, carrying them out to vote, and holding special meeting sessions with them,” she added.