Four-way showdown as Foote, Greenwood join Wright, Vaz
Published:Tuesday | August 19, 2025 | 12:08 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Westmoreland Central is heating up with a four-way face-off set to unfold on September 3.
Leading the charge with a message rather than a manifesto is Don Foote, a former attorney-at-law now at the helm of the Jamaica Abolitionist Movement. His insurgent campaign is less about votes and more about values.
“I am not expecting to be elected as the member of parliament. I have no indoor or outdoor agents,” Foote declared with unapologetic candour, after handing in his nomination papers.
“I am a member of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), a profound parish man, … but I am really using this as a platform to discuss certain things and to find out if Jamaica is serious about corruption and the poor sense of justice we have here. I cannot get the message out normally, so I am using this avenue.”
Meanwhile, Dwayne Vaz, the People’s National Party (PNP) standard-bearer, is riding a wave of renewed optimism. With boots on the ground and banners in the breeze, Vaz believes the tide is turning back to him and the PNP.
“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 Gleaner after his nomination. “The party is in good standing. We know that. We expect to be victorious not only in Central, but across Westmoreland.”
Vaz, who previously held the seat before losing it in 2020, is banking on voter re-engagement to tip the scales.
“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.
SEEKING RE-ELECTION
But standing firm in his corner is George Wright, the JLP’s man who won the seat in 2020. Wright is leaning on his track record of bricks, books, and boots to secure a second term.
“In my first term I have represented the people well, especially in relation to infrastructure, building houses, and assisting with educational grants,” Wright said. “I have been doing a lot of work for the people. The target this time around is about 11,000 votes for me to win comfortably.”
Wright’s campaign is rooted in tangible deliverables, and his party is standing firmly behind him.
“George Wright has been a steady hand in Westmoreland Central. He’s not about noise; he’s about results,” said a female, while clutching a green vuvuzela in one hand and a bell in the other.
“From road repairs to school support, he’s shown what real representation looks like. The JLP is proud of the work we’ve done nationally and locally, and we’re confident the people will reward that,’ she said.
Adding a fresh twist to the race is Kathleen Greenwood of the Jamaica Progressive Party – a political newcomer with a sharp tongue and a clear mission to disrupt the duopoly.
“The people of Westmoreland Central deserve a new vision, one that puts their needs first and does not recycle the same promises every five years,” Greenwood declared. “The Jamaica Progressive Party is here to give citizens a real alternative, one that prioritises community development, accountability, and opportunities for ordinary Jamaicans.”