'I had to vote' - Strong presence of elderly, disabled in West Portland
Abe Dabdoub arriving at Buff Bay Primary with a supporter yesterday. -photos by Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
published in the Jamaica Gleaner: Tuesday | September 4, 2007
Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter
The rain seemingly could not stop the elderly and disabled of West Portland from casting their ballots in yesterday's general election. Several senior citizens and disabled constituents in party colours were observed being escorted by supporters to various polling stations.
One elector, Lorrie James, whose back is broken, said it was imperative for him to vote.
"Mi cyaan walk or stand, but I had to vote, I always vote an' I will continue to vote," said the 62-year-old, who broke is back after falling out of a breadfruit tree last July.
Partially blind
At the Hart Hill Basic School, a partially blind 70-year-old woman said that voting was a citizen's duty. The woman, who only gave her name as E. Franklyn, said she has always voted.
At St. Margaret's Bay All-Age School, Clifton McKenzie, on a crutch, climbed the hilly pathway to the polling station.
"I am good, just here to vote," McKenzie said.
The constituency, which was contested by the Jamaica Labour Party's Daryl Vaz and the People's National Party's Abe Dabdoub, recorded an approximately 75 per cent voter turnout.
