ST ANDREW, Jamaica – Supporters on both sides of the political divide were in frenzied excitement at St Benedict’s Primary School in St Andrew East Rural when outgoing People’s National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament Damion Crawford visited the polling station here in the Dallas Division a short while ago.

When the popular politician first arrived he was swarmed by PNP supporters, who hugged him, and later lifted him off his feet.

Moments later, onlooking Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters got in on the act, pulling Crawford across the street and lifting his hands in celebratory mode.

The PNP lost the Dallas Division in the last general election. The St Andrew East Rural constituency is being contested by Opposition JLP candidate Juliet Holness, wife of party leader Andrew Holness, and PNP’s representative Imani Duncan-Price.

Both are first-time candidates.

Crawford lost the right to represent the PNP after he was defeated by Peter Blake in an internal selection exercise. Blake was later not ratified by the party’s Integrity Commission.

Sanjay Myers