JLP's Duane Smith Calls PNP's Joan Gordon-Webley a '44-year loser'

Jamaica Labour Party MP Duane Smith says Joan Gordon-Webley, the People's National Party's challenger in St Andrew West Rural, is a "44-year loser" unlikely to stop Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn from securing a third term.

Gordon-Webley was officially presented on Sunday as the PNP's representative. The JLP's Cuthbert-Flynn has held the seat since February 2016.

“Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn is a winner," declared Smith, before attacking Gordon-Webley's string of five consecutive general election losses starting in 1989. She won a parliamentary seat on a JLP ticket in 1980, and again in 1983, though uncontested.

He said, "The person they are putting to run against her (Cuthbert-Flynn) has not won an election since I was born. This year, I celebrate my 44th birthday. She has been a loser for 44 years. She was JLP, she was NDM (National Democratic Movement), now she’s PNP. I don’t know what she going be tomorrow."

“We cannot trust her Labourites; we have to stick with Cuthbert-Flynn,” he added.

Smith, who was sworn in at Gordon House as MP for St Andrew North Western on December 3, urged party supporters to work together to ensure Cuthbert-Flynn gets a third term.

The PNP on Sunday told supporters that if it is to form government, the party must win St Andrew West Rural.

PNP region 3 chairman Dennis Gordon said while the party holds six constituencies in Kingston and St Andrew, it wants four more seats. He identified St Andrew West Rural, which Cuthbert-Flynn has held since February 2016, as one of the four seats. The JLP has won four of the last five elections in that constituency.

The opposition party is also seeking to unseat Finance Minister Fayval Williams, who has served two terms in St Andrew Eastern, fielding business executive Patricia Duncan Sutherland.

Since 1944, St Andrew Eastern has been held by the JLP seven times to the PNP's six.

The party is also expecting to wrestle back Kingston Central from the JLP, after a surprise defeat in the 2020 general election. It was the first time since 1989, that the seat was being won by the JLP.

Over the last five election cycles in St Andrew East Rural, the JLP has won four times to the PNP’s one, a ratio Gordon wants to adjust.

“So, we’re taking back the two sides. We’re taking the western side, the eastern side and then we come to Steve McGregor in Central Kingston. So, if you have six plus four it equals to 10 and we’re targeting 10.

“What we need to do is to continue to do the political work [and] canvass. Today, I am proud to announce that we have identified 150 canvassers across the region who will be going into every constituency to assist,” said Gordon.

- Kimone Francis

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.