#JaVotes2016: Hyde Ready For 'Tough' Fight With Portia

By: Daraine Luton

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The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate for South West St Andrew, a strong People's National Party (PNP) seat represented by party president Portia Simpson Miller regards it as "a very tough" seat.

Victor Hyde got 553 votes in the last election to Simpson Miller's 10,420.

"Even though I am in a tough seat it doesn't really matter because we always going out for the win. The JLP campaign is 'From Poverty to Prosperity' and this area needs that," Hyde said.

"Seeing the condition that the constituency is in is heart-rending," he added.

As Hyde gathered with more than a dozen supporters at East Avenue, to leave for the nomination centre, a supporter rang a bell loudly and cried out, "shower!"

"A my party til death," she said of the JLP.

"Portia caah win," she said while belting out, "work me want, work!"

Her voice carried through the streets, quite the contrast to activities along Spanish Town Road and Waltham Park Road where Simpson Miller supporters are gathered, blowing vuvuzelas and rocking to music blaring from speakers.

Simpson Miller first won the seat in 1976, taking over what was regarded as the strongest JLP seat on the island.

Hyde said that election came at a substantial cost.