Jamaica Labour Party supporters celebrate in Frankfield, Clarendon, after the victory of their candidate, Michael Stern, over Eton Williams of the National Democratic Movement. - Photo by George Henry

SPALDINGS, Clarendon:

JUST HOURS after being elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for North West Clarendon in Friday's by-election, the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Michael Stern has made it clear that he will not be expecting a honeymoon period.

Stern, who defeated the National Democratic Movement's (NDM) Eton Williams, said he intends to pick up where he left off when he was ousted from the House of Representatives due to his dual citizenship issue.

Described as 'a little giant' in the political arena by his supporters, Stern told The Gleaner that his intention was to see to the completion of projects he had on the books way before he had to vacate his seat in Parliament.

"I intend to follow through with my development plan which I had laid out. This includes road projects in a number of areas, water projects that have started and are near to completion in some cases, electricity projects, an agro-processing project, several farming projects, empowerment for youths among other things which will be announced," he said.

He noted that he has been able to get a lot done over the 22 months he served after he was elected in the 2007 general election, but had to curtail several projects due to the distraction which was caused by his dual citizenship case against former People's National Party (PNP) MP for the constituency, Richard Azan.

Stern made it clear that he was looking forward to working with PNP, JLP and NDM supporters in North West Clarendon as a means of solidifying his base and establishing a good relation-ship with all persons in the constituency.

Real work begins

"PNP, JLP and NDM supporters voted for me in the by-election and I am looking forward to working with them," Stern said. "I want to tell the PNP and the NDM who fought me in the election that I am not taking the victory for any grand celebration, because I am getting back to work immediately to ensure that the Labour Party remains solid in the constituency."

In the meantime, the newly elected MP, who received 5,572 votes, representing 93.6 per cent of total ballots cast, said he had not expected more than around 4,000 votes in the by-election. He added that, based on his canvas in the constituency, he felt that a Friday would not have been a good day for the election.

Stern said this was so because many electors go to the market to sell their produce on a Friday. He also pointed out that he had problems getting persons out to vote because they felt it was a foregone conclusion that he would win.

Created history

"A 5,100 majority is the largest majority in any by-election in this country," he said, noting that he has created history.

He pointed out that he was happy that the people of North West Clarendon have confidence in him to represent them in Parlia-ment, and he is looking forward to representing them in Gordon House for a long time to come as he seeks to make their lives more comfortable.

Stern, who received 1,800 votes when he ran on the NDM's ticket during the 1997 general election in the constituency, boasted that that figure was the highest received by any candidate for that party in any election in Jamaica.