PNP still confident even as JLP dismisses findings of W’land poll

By: kimone.francis@gleanerjm.com

Image caption: Daniel Lawrence, member of parliament for Westmoreland Eastern

A claim by the opposition People’s National Party (PNP), that it is ahead in 60 per cent of the divisions in Westmoreland, has been rubbished by the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) which has styled the poll as bogus.

“I know long before now that the JLP is ahead, especially in my constituency, because I go through on a daily basis and I know for sure that the strength of the JLP today is far stronger than the strength of the JLP in 2020,” argued Westmoreland Eastern Member of Parliament Daniel Lawrence.

Dr Dayton Campbell, general secretary of the PNP, in a statement to the media on Monday, disclosed that the party had completed polls in nine of the 14 Westmoreland divisions.

The polls were conducted by veteran pollster Don Anderson’s Market Research Services Limited team.

Campbell said the party would sweep all seats in Westmoreland Eastern – Whitehouse, Darliston, Leamington, and Bethel Town.

He said that in all seats, the PNP held double-digit leads.

The general secretary further claimed the party leads comfortably in three of the five divisions in Central Westmoreland.

He said of the nine divisions polled, the party leads in seven.

“The party will complete polls in the divisions in Westmoreland Western shortly,” said Campbell.

He said that, despite the party being pleased with the polls, it was not an invitation to be complacent but would serve as inspiration to continue through to election day.

Campbell mentioned that the latest Anderson polls were a clear indication that the party was on its way back to full strength in the traditionally PNP parish.

The Gleaner can confirm that the most recent of the PNP referenced data was collected two to three weeks ago.

However, all referenced data was not collected at the same time, as some was collected months ago.

The PNP won nine of the 14 divisions in the 2016 local government elections. Since that time, two of its councillors – Ian Myles and Garfield James – crossed the floor to join the JLP.

Myles represented the Little London division within the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation while James represented the Sheffield division.

Lawton McKenzie, of the Grange Hill division, has since opted to become an independent after initially returning to the fold of the party, though only briefly.

The balance, prior to the announcement of the February 26 local government elections, stood at seven to six in favour of the JLP.

Lawrence is insistent that there will be significant separation in favour of the JLP two weeks from now.

He said the PNP, learning it was trailing in Westmoreland – news he said is likely to ricochet across the island, was seeking to counter.

“The reality is there to face ... . If you say you do a poll, you don’t need to do a press release. Release the poll and how much is it credible when all their candidates that they boot say the poll is wrong. So, who now going to believe a poll that they release to say that they are leading in Westmoreland? Who they trying to convince, themselves or the wider public?” Lawrence quizzed

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