JAMAICA Labour Party (JLP) candidate for Clarendon South Eastern, Rudyard Spencer, says he is confident that party faithful will turn out in droves on Thursday to return him as member of parliament for the constituency.

Spencer, who is seeking a fourth term in office, narrowly escaped defeat in the December 29 General Election, jogging to the line with a lead of 107 votes. His opponent, Dereck Lambert, of the People’s National Party, ended with 8,736 votes, the highest number ever recorded by a PNP candidate in that constituency. Spencer had managed to maximise on his votes in the Rocky Point Division, a traditional JLP stronghold, with 2,166 to Lambert’s 1,388. He lost the Hayes division, a traditional PNP stronghold, by 1,196 votes, polling 773 to Lambert’s 1,969. In the Mineral Heights Division, Spencer secured 1,514 votes to Lambert’s 1,211, while in the Palmer’s Cross Division, he lost by 21 votes, polling 1,163 to Lambert’s 1,184. The Electoral Commission of Jamaica recorded a voter turnout of 50.33 per cent. A total of 4,113 constituents have been added to the voters’ list. The JLP has only lost that seat twice to the PNP, winning nine general elections since the constituency was formed in 1959. This includes the 1983 General Election which a Michael Manley-led PNP did not contest.

ANTICIPATING A ROCKY VICTORY

“First of all, like any good politician, we would have analysed the results and, yes, it was extremely close, but what we noticed, [is that] in the Rocky Point Division, 870 frontline Labourites for one reason or the other did not vote,” Spencer explained. “And we try and find out why they didn’t vote, and some of the reasons we have accepted. That will not happen this time. We are doing things in Rocky Point that we haven’t done [before]. We have repaired some 14 houses in Rocky Point. We have built new homes in Rocky Point. They will not beat us in Rocky Point ever,” he insisted.

“The polls, as I see it, one time showed that we were neck and neck. But I will tell you one thing, we — and you can put your pot on the fire — you can bet on it, will win,” he told the

Jamaica Observer while on a tour of the southern constituency in January.

The trade unionist said what is going to return him as member of parliament is the work that he has done, and added that he has been strategic in his campaigning because “the other side has endless money”. “Minimum, minimum, the other side will spend all the money; we will spend none,” Spencer charged when quizzed about the amount of money he is likely to spend on the campaign trail.

10 MISSING YEARS

He insisted that he has had to spend his time in the constituency rebuilding it as a result of “10 missing years” when the PNP’s Peter Bunting and Basil Burrell were members of parliament. Spencer argued that, at that time, nothing was done to develop the constituency.

“First of all, I must express that there are 10 missing years from this constituency. Mr Bunting took over from Mr Shearer in 1993. Mr Bunting left the constituency after three years without doing anything to interfere with the infrastructure or anything. Mr Burrell took over from Mr Bunting and he won the election in 1997 and he left without doing anything. So what we have, we have Mr Shearer making monumental contribution to the infrastructure and the likes and you have 10 years that absolutely nothing was done,” he lamented.

THE ENVY OF JAMAICA

Spencer, a former health minister, said that it is against that background that he took over and started doing things that should have been done. He said his tenure in the constituency had seen the construction of several recreational parks, sporting facilities, health centres, repairs, and financial assistance to a number of schools, numerous roadwork and bridge repairs, the upgrading of the Rocky Point Beach, a new market, the relocation of flood victims free of cost, as well as repairs to several homes.

“…The park in Lionel Town, Paisley Park, there was no fencing, there was no park, there was no building. We had to set about to do those things, those things that should have been done already. We built a new community centre, we fenced the park, and we established a netball court…so it is something that we’re proud of,” said Spencer.

“The residents of Portland Cottage were flooded out by (hurricanes) Ivan and Dean. With the assistance of Danville Walker, as CEO for Office of National Reconstruction we looked at all properties until we finally came on a property that is the envy of everybody. They are overlooking the beach. No PNP can better that; it cannot be bettered, it can’t be beaten,” he touted.

Spencer said, in his next term, a trade training centre will be launched that will be the “envy of Jamaica” and the “crowning glory of South East Clarendon”.

“People from all over Jamaica will be able to apply, and that is in collaboration with UTech (University of Technology, Jamaica). That will enable you to work anywhere in Jamaica or anywhere in the world, and this is what we want for South East Clarendon,” he said adding that work will start this year on the centre.

A PARTNERSHIP OF LOVE

At the same time, former Jamaica Money Market Brokers (JMMB) executive director (business operations) Patricia Duncan Sutherland, daughter of PNP veteran politician Dr D K Duncan, is relying on her message of partnership and love to capture the seat. Duncan Sutherland is the first woman to represent the PNP in the Clarendon South Eastern constituency at the national level.

“So I entered representational politics because I believe that there comes a time in your life when you’re giving back that you have to help to build your country. And in building your country, I have found that I have the ability to work with people to create the partnerships, and also because I believe in people I have chosen the People’s National Party,” she told the

Sunday Observer while on a similar tour of the constituency.

“I believe that what we can do in South East Clarendon will be able to cause a major change and be an example to the country of how it is that we as Jamaicans can move from dependence to independence in partnership and with love at the core of how we behave,” she said.

OPPORTUNITIES OVER INADEQUACIES

The former Miss Jamaica World contestant said she is focused on using the resources within the constituency to create opportunities for constituents.

“I actually don’t see inadequacies, I actually only see opportunities, and our whole conversation when we meet, when we discuss what we are doing, is around what are the opportunities. So the [opportunity] right here in South East Clarendon [is] land; we have lots and lots of land,” Duncan Sutherland said.

The Lower House hopeful acknowledged that agriculture was an “important industry” which would receive a major push from her.

“When I come into South East Clarendon I’m not coming in to say I have the solutions; I’m coming here to say that within the community we’re going to find what works and do more of what works. I want to show to Jamaica what’s great about South East Clarendon.

“In me, they (constituents) will find a partner, in me and the team that we have here they will find partnership; they will find love [and] they will find respect. That’s what we are here for,” she said.

In the meantime, Duncan Sutherland, while she is pleased with the polls, said: “You never take anything for granted.” “You can’t take people for granted. Polls are what a person’s opinion is at a certain point in time, and you always have to continuously work with people, remind them, be available, so that they can know that when we are working together you will always be there.

“It’s about building that trust. A big issue with politicians, the perception people have, is that they can’t trust them. So sometimes you have to go an extra mile for them to be able to understand how to develop that trust, to develop that kind of political and social capital with them,” the mother of three added.

A NOVEL CHANGE

Meanwhile, PNP councillor for the Hayes Division and Mayor of May Pen, Scean Barnswell, told the

Sunday Observer that Duncan Sutherland was bringing a sense of novelty to the constituency.

“Her style of leadership is something that is new to the constituency to which persons are really looking forward to. It has somewhat generated a lot of interest among the youth, the women in particular, and I think her chance is good,” Barnswell said.

“She has been able to mobilise the length and breadth of the constituency from different activities and by selling herself to the people. It is somehow bearing fruit,” he added.

Barnswell, who lost to Spencer in the 2007 General Election, said that for some time, unemployment and underdevelopment had plagued the constituency.

The absence of potable water, unemployment, poor roads, and the absence of electricity in some areas are some of the inadequacies Barnswell told the

Sunday Observer are plaguing the constituency. He said that Duncan Sutherland “in her thrust going forward will make mention of how she will address those”.

He expressed that, while Spencer is “someone easily liked”, he has maintained a “laid-back” approach in terms of his attitude towards development in the constituency. “I think he could have done more; being here from 2002 not much has been achieved.”

COAT TAILS TESTED

Political commentator and deputy president of the University College of the Caribbean (UCC) Dr Dameon Black believes that Spencer will be in for stiff competition on Thursday.

Black reiterated that Spencer won the seat by a margin of 0.6 per cent over his nearest challenger, Lambert, in 2011.

Apart from Bunting, the constituency has been held by former Prime Minister Hugh Shearer of the JLP.

“Indeed, Mr Shearer had close victories there as well, before his career was ended by Mr Bunting. In 2011, Mr Spencer held [two] of the four electoral divisions in the constituency. He won by fairly comfortable margins in Mineral Heights [and] Rocky Point. However, he was soundly defeated in the Hayes Division, where Lambert polled approximately 70 per cent of the overall votes. This highlights the key to victory in this constituency; an organisation that will get the vote,” said Black, adding that the constituency will really be won by the proverbial ground game.

“No mistakes can be made,” he charged.

Black told the

Sunday Observer, that one major challenge/concern is the recent downturn in the fortunes of Monymusk sugar factory.

“This was the last major employer in the constituency. Bauxite has fallen. Mr Spencer is a trade unionist and is skilled at communicating the concerns and needs of the people. The critical issue is whether or not he will be blamed for the employment situation. In this scenario, the effectiveness of Andrew Holness’ coat tails will be tested,” he stated.