Supporters of the two candidates in yesterday's North East St Catherine by-election participate in activities in the constituency.

Apart from the noticeable presence of security personnel and a few faithful supporters, clad in either green or orange and standing in the streets, one would hardly have known that up until midday yesterday a by-election was under way in the North East St Catherine constituency.

At the Troja High School polling station, voters strolled in one by one. The majority of those being polled were very elderly people, like 76-year-old Joyce Harris.

Harris said she has voted in every election held in independent Jamaica and was glad she had the opportunity to do so again.

No small sacrifice

Another elderly woman, who had voted at Troja, said it was no small sacrifice.

"Mi guh docta and him say mi have suga, blood pressure and sinus - wha' yuh call it ... yuh haffi say mi guh a mi grave," the elderly woman shared.

Despite all her ailments, however, she said she simply had to vote.

"Well yuh see, yuh haffi mek yuh likkle mark enuh," she said, explaining why she felt compelled to exercise her franchise.

At the Mount Nebo Baptist Church in Guy's Hill, supporters of the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Gregory Mair greatly outnumbered supporters of the People's National Party's Granville Valentine. In fact, an hour before the polls closed, those who gathered there were declaring victory.

One JLP supporter there told The Gleaner that perhaps if the seat was being contested by Phyllis Mitchell, things would have been different.

However, due to the fact that Granville Valentine is virtually unknown to many within the constituency, he was sure Mair would win.

"If a did Ms Mitchell, things woulda way different, mi a tell yuh. But dem bring this yah man yah wha nobody nuh know bout."

By the time polling ended - hours before the victory would be declared, there were parties in the streets. In Guy's Hill and especially Riversdale, supporters of the JLP were high on the wings of euphoria.

andrew.wildes@gleanerjm.com