Dwayne Vaz: PNP will take Westmoreland

People's National Party (PNP) standard-bearer for Westmoreland Central, Dwayne Vaz, is projecting victory both in his constituency and nationally for his party, declaring that the mood on the ground suggests the Opposition is poised to form Jamaica's next government.

"We are feeling very confident based on what we've been seeing on the ground over the past few months of campaigning," Vaz told The Star following nomination day activities this morning.

"The party is in good standing -- we know that. We expect to be victorious not only in Central, but across Westmoreland and Jamaica as a whole. We know that the People's National Party will be the next government."

Pressed on what will make the difference in the upcoming election, Vaz pointed to voter turnout as the single most important factor.

"In the last election, many people from the party did not vote because they were dissatisfied with what was happening. This time, the energy is different. Everybody sees victory within sight, and everybody is willing to do everything they possibly can to ensure that we are victorious," he said.

Meanwhile, campaign manager Victor Wright reported that there was a brief delay at the nomination centre morning after police implemented crowd-control measures.

"As I understand it, the instructions of the police had been sent to us. We've been waiting for a week, and now we're here. We are happy that our candidate has been duly nominated. We've done the work, and this is another step forward," Wright told The Star.

He also addressed the party's narrow margin of defeat of just over 1,000 votes in the last general election.

"We've come through what I call a 2020 an anomaly," he said, pointing to the traditional strength of the PNP in Central Westmoreland.

"Our base is now fired up. The time has come, the energy is there, and we are bringing the representation that the people deserve. The support on the ground is solid, and we are confident heading into this election."

- Albert Ferguson

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