SOUTH EAST ST. MARY: Douglas digs deep for victory

Peralto

Douglas

Published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Tuesday | September 4, 2007

A veteran of the People's National Party (PNP), Harry Douglas has again proven his mettle in bringing home another traditional seat for his party.

The tactics of the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) candidate, Tarn Peralto, were not savvy enough to send the incumbent Member of Parliament for St. Mary South East, Harry Douglas, a junior minister and deputy general secretary of the PNP, packing after the votes were counted last night.

Douglas won with 6,960 votes to Peralto's 6,914, a margin of 46 votes.

Douglas had won all elections contested since 1989 when the PNP returned to office, and electors of the St. Mary South East constituency have once again given him the nod, sending a clear signal to Peralto that he has to come stronger.

The defeat of Peralto is also an indication that the hard work that had been done on the ground by the JLP was just not enough to prove his worth in what is believed to be a traditional PNP seat.

Douglas was appointed State Minister for Local Government and Environment in 2002 under the administration of former Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson. He retained the junior minister job under Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller.