Daryl Vaz weighs in on JLP's defeat in Portland Eastern

 

Member of Parliament-elect for Portland Western Daryl Vaz has attributed his wife's loss in the Portland Eastern constituency to a reserved showing from Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters.

 

Ann-Marie Vaz, the incumbent and a first time MP, was one of the surprise losers in the September 3 general election.

 

She was defeated by newcomer Isat Buchanan of the People's National Party. 

 

Mrs. Vaz polled 8,181 votes to 8,316 for Mr. Buchanan.

 

Asked on Monday about the result, Mr. Vaz said with the election being a numbers game, a good showing from supporters in strong JLP divisions in East Portland should have secured victory for the party in the constituency. 

 

"When I review the results in her election, her strongest division, the Manchioneal Division, came out with a lead of 325 votes, when it has come out with between 6- and 800 votes in the three previous elections since she was there in 2019. Port Antonio and Prospect divisions are very strong PNP and if you don't come out for Fairy Hill and Manchioneal with a lead of 1,500 votes, you are not going to make it. And the bottom line is that the numbers don't lie. I don't want to ascribe blame in relation to why those numbers ever came out. The bottom line is that politics is about numbers and the fact is that our numbers didn't come out, and if they had come out she would have been victorious. We lost the seat. The PNP didn't win it," he reasoned.

 

He said it is to be decided whether Mrs. Vaz will contest the next general election.

 

"I don't know. Truth be told, obviously, it will take some time for her. I mean she is disappointed, as would anybody be, based on the amount of work that she did. But what I would like to say publicly is that I really am grateful and thankful for the outpouring of love and support for her. 

 

"I don't think that there has ever been a politician in Jamaica that has lost an election where it has overshadowed the victory of the party. She is loved because she loves unconditionally and she works hard, and she works with her heart, her soul and her passion. And basically all she wants to do is to make sure and try and help and build East Portland and Jamaica, and without a question or a shadow of a doubt, she did exactly that," he declared.

 

Mr. Vaz, a five-term MP, has announced that this will be his final term in representational politics.

 

He said he is working to complete critical projects as MP and as a Cabinet minister before he finalises his exit.