Holness urges unity in Westmoreland Western candidate selection

Leader of the Jamaica Labour Party, Dr Andrew Holness, has urged party members in Westmoreland Western to be on their best behaviour during Sunday's internal election to select the party's representative in the constituency, while emphasising the importance of accepting the result when the ballots are counted.

Holness' message was played from a speaker at the Little London High School where voting was taking place on Sunday afternoon.

Councillor Garfield James of the Sheffield division is challenging the incumbent member of parliament for Westmoreland Western, Morland Wilson, for the right to become the Jamaica Labour Party's candidate in the constituency.

Holness sought to assure workers whose names were not on the voters' list that they could still be given a chance to vote.

“If your name does not appear on the list and it is agreed amongst your peers and the leadership of the constituency that you are a worker, at the discretion of the director of election, and the party officials present, you may be issued a provisional ballot where you can indicate your choice,” Holness said.

“This will not be counted at the close of polls, but will be brought to the attention of the party to consider,” the JLP leader explained. “As workers of the party, we ask you to respect the order of the organisation and protect it by being on your best behaviour.”

Holness also urged the candidates to exercise professionalism, saying the party must remain the winner at the end of today's selection process

“At the end of the exercise the Jamaica Labour Party must be the winner based on how you conducted yourself. Whatever is the result, I ask all of you to come back together as one team- team Jamaica Labour Party,” Holness pleaded.

“I urge the candidates to be magnanimous and respectful of each other, as the ultimate example to your supporters,” Holness said. “After this we must be prepared to shake hands and return to work united for Jamaica and the Labour Party.”

Approximately 600 party workers from five divisions in the constituency are casting their ballots across the constituency to decide between James and Wilson.

Workers and delegates from the Grange Hill and Friendship divisions are voting at Grange Hill High School while delegates from the Negril, Little London and Sheffield divisions are voting at the Little London High School.

- Albert Ferguson

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