#JAVOTES2024 | JLP’s Desmond Smith hits back against protesters

Desmond Smith, the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) candidate for the Lorrimers division in Trelawny Southern, has hit back against accusations that he disrespected residents in the area during Monday's local government election.

Speaking with The Gleaner after the close of the polls, Smith claimed that his accusers had sought to sell him their votes and that he rebuffed them.

"What happened today was that I reached a particular spot, and there were guys standing up in normal coloured clothing, white and so forth. They stopped me and about four of them came close to the vehicle and they were asking for money for their votes,” Smith alleged.

“I said 'No, this is not possible,' because situations like this, I don't really buy votes, nor do I even want to take out a dollar for anybody to see and take a picture of me handing money to anyone. So they were upset, and they stepped off and said, 'Okay, man, you disrespected us,' and I said, 'Well, I have to protect my seat, so if you see that as disrespect, fine.' I drove off, only to find out that in a short while, those PNP clothing that they had, they just put them on,” Smith added.

During Monday's proceedings, protesters in the Allside community in Wait-a-bit claimed that Smith had told them that he did not need their votes in order to win the election in the Lorrimers division.

The residents also accused their political representatives of exhibiting a lack of care for the division and the wider Trelawny Southern constituency, citing inconsistent water supply and employment opportunities for farmers in the area.

Smith is contesting the Lorrimers division against the People's National Party's Gregory Clarke.

- Christopher Thomas

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