Adrian Frater, News Editor
People's National Party (PNP) contender for the Eastern Westmoreland seat, Luther Buchanan (centre), is flanked by uncle and PNP Member of Parliament Donald Buchanan (left); mother Joyce (second left); wife Bobbette (second right); and uncle, Government Senator Noel Monteith, as he walks towards a polling station in New Roads, Westmoreland, yesterday. At the end of yesterday's voting, Mr. Buchanan won the seat over Jamaica Labour Party contender Don Foote, and Independent candidate Astor Black. - PHOTO BY ADRIAN FRATER
WESTERN BUREAU:
LUTHER BUCHANAN added another chapter to the People's National Party's (PNP) dominance in Eastern Westmoreland yesterday, when he emerged victorious in the by-election called to fill the vacancy following the recent resignation of former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson.
Mr. Buchanan, a 38-year-old mechanical engineer and Westmoreland Parish Councillor for the Leamington division, polled 6,400 while the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) candidate, Don Foote, a 49-year-old attorney-at-law, polled 3,300. Fifty-six-year-old Independent candidate Astor Black polled 44 votes. There were 17 spoiled ballots.
The total number of votes represented just over 45 per cent of the total electorate. According to Director of Elections, Danville Walker, the percentage is consistent with averages for by-elections.
STARTED OUT SLOWLY
"It started out quite slowly but as the day went by the pace picked up and the 45 per cent turnout we had today is consistent with by-election turnout generally," Mr. Walker said.
News of Mr. Buchanan's victory, which nullified the JLP's bid to win the constituency for the second time (the JLP won the constituency for the first and only time in the 1980 General Elections) was greeted with wild celebrations by hundreds of party supporters clad in orange shirts and PNP paraphernalia.
Jammed into buses, trucks and cars, they drove around Darliston singing party songs and waving party flags.
"The people are eager to continue the progress in Eastern Westmoreland and tonight's result is a clear indication of their desire," a jubilant Mr. Buchanan told The Gleaner.
"I am elated and I am now certain that the progress will continue. The people have shown confidence in me and I am going to ensure that the legacy of P.J. Patterson remains safe."
Despite their defeat, the top leadership of the JLP were far from being despondent and, according to JLP Deputy Leader Horace Chang, the low turnout of voters and the significant number of votes the JLP candidate got, in what is predominantly a PNP stronghold, is a clear indication that there are significant pockets of disaffection with the PNP.
VOTER APATHY
"I think today's result shows that there is a significant amount of voter apathy in the constituency and I think if we can build on what we got today, we should do very well in the future," said Dr. Chang.
"We will now need to get on a mission to excite those persons who did not vote today, and if we can get them to rally around the JLP I think we will have a strong chance to win next time around."
Astor Black was jubilant in defeat as the 44 votes he got represented the highest return he has received in all his five attempts to win a seat in Parliament.
"This gives me more encouragement to contest more elections in the future. Should a general election be called in the near future, I will be going after the North Trelawny seat because that is where I am from and that is where I think I will get the strongest support," he said.
