Daraine Luton, Staff Reporter

THE OPPOSITION People's National Party (PNP) has attached great importance to winning West Portland in the March 23 by-election, with president Portia Simpson Miller describing the contest as a "must-win" for the party.

"We are not here for joke. We are here to see what we can do to ensure that we take home West Portland for the People's National Party," Simpson Miller told journalists in West Portland on Friday, which was nomination day.

At a later rally, Simpson Miller blasted the Government for its handling of the current financial crisis in Jamaica.

The obviously angry PNP leader, who was addressing a capacity crowd at Lynch Park in Buff Bay, Portland, said that the Bruce Golding administration had once again shown scant regard for the people and were now attempting to cover up their devious deeds, which had brought insult to Jamaica and the Caribbean.

Fertiliser controversy

Simpson Miller was referring to the controversy surrounding the Government's importation of cheap fertiliser to Jamaica.

"This could never happen under my leadership," she said. "There is no way I could have sent Roger Clarke to seek cheap fertiliser for our farmers, and instead of fertiliser he brings back shaving cream. And they have the nerve to bring foreigners here to help them to cover up their dirty work."

Simpson Miller also lashed out at the prime minister for statements he allegedly made on radio Friday that she should put a gag order on opposition senator Mark Golding, as well as reveal who was the opposition spokesman on finance.

"The people of Jamaica already know who is the PNP's spokesman on finance. What the people do not know is who the real minister of finance is in the JLP," she added.

Earlier, Peter Phillips, who lost to Simpson Miller in a second bid to become party president last year, stated that the PNP was more united than ever before. Phillips said that the signs were obvious, as the large turnout of senior members of the party was a signal that the PNP was united and committed to the cause of the people.

More than 18,000 voters are registered to vote in the March 23 by-election, which the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has all but described as a cakewalk.

"I would be very disappointed if I were to win with less than a 2,000-vote margin," Daryl Vaz, the JLP's candidate, told The Gleaner last week.

Full throttle

The PNP has nominated Kenneth Rowe to contest the seat. The party has also turned on its election machinery full throttle and has called on the service of all members in what appears to have been a fractious party.

"We have hard work and they have hard work to do, too. It would be a stupid political party to believe that in any election it is just a walkover," Simpson Miller said. "We are not treating it as a walkover; we are treating it as an election we want to win and we must win."

Prime Minister Bruce Golding told The Gleaner on Friday that the JLP, of which he is leader, will not under-estimate the PNP in the election.

"We are not taking anything for granted. We never do. We leave nothing to chance. We are going to be working hard, up and down the constituency, from now until polls close at 5 o'clock on the 23rd of March, but we are absolutely confident," Golding said.

Confident of victory

The prime minister added: "We are working hard and we will leave the rest to the people. We are confident that Daryl is going to be victorious and we can get on with the business of government and get beyond the distraction that this has put us through."

Meanwhile, Luther Buchanan, PNP deputy general secretary and campaign manager for Kenneth Rowe, is asserting that the writing is on the wall for Vaz.

"The canvasses are not yet completed but thus far, from what we have seen, the candidate for the People's National Party, who is a latecomer, is equal to the candidate for the Jamaica Labour Party," Buchanan said. "... There is great possibility of an outside victory for the People's National Party."

Former vice-president, Dr Peter Phillips, has also said that the prospects look great for the PNP.

"There is great dissatisfaction with the way the Jamaica Labour Party government has been conducting the affairs of the country," Phillips stated. "I believe that if we get the organisational work done, there is a very good chance - more than 50 per cent - that Comrade Rowe will be elected as the next member of parliament," he added.

The PNP held West Portland between 1989 and 2007 until Vaz showed up and broke the dynasty with a 944-vote win.

Vaz was subsequently disqualified as he had sworn allegiance to a foreign power. A by-election was ordered by the court and Vaz is again running on the JLP's ticket, having renounced his US citizenship. PNP candidate Abe Dabdoub, who lost to Vaz in the September 2007 general election, dropped out of the race this time.

- Additional reporting by Gareth Davis

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com