Attorney-at-law Don Foote believes that it is his destiny to do what no other man from the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has ever done. - FILE
WESTERN BUREAU:
WHILE HISTORY does not appear to favour his candidacy, attorney-at-law Don Foote believes that it is his destiny to do what no other man from the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has ever done: win the Eastern Westmoreland parliamentary seat.
"I am extremely confident and I want to promise you that I am going to take home this seat for the Labour party," said Mr. Foote, after a massive show of strength by the JLP at the recent Nomination Day exercise in Darliston. "The people are crying out for proper representation and I am here to give it to them."
Having tested the waters before and tasted defeat at the hands of former Member of Parliament and former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, Mr. Foote thinks he is much wiser for the experience and hopes to make it work in his favour.
"This time around I will be knocking on every single door; I will be taking my message directly to the people," said Mr. Foote, whose candidacy some pundits have described as a measuring stick by the JLP to gauge its state of readiness should a general election be called in the near future.
'HOUSE-TO-HOUSE' METHOD
In utilising the 'house-to-house' method reportedly used by Mrs. Euphemia Williams in 1980 when she defeated Mr. Patterson, marking the only time the JLP has ever won the Eastern Westmoreland seat, Mr. Foote said he hopes to convince the people that he represents their best hope for a prosperous future.
"I thought long and hard about what I want to do for the people of this constituency and I have developed a seven-point message," said Mr. Foote. "I believe my message holds the key to creating a bright future for this constituency."
Mr. Foote's seven-point message, which he said points to the heart of failed government policies over the past 17 years, is as follows: injustice, the family, love, nationalism and patriotism, individual independence, God, hope and trust.
While ill health has prevented her from going out to campaign with Mr. Foote, Mrs. Williams, who found the formula to beating the PNP in 1980, is offering him advice and guidance.
"I think he is a good man who will do well for the people," said the 80-year-old Mrs. Williams. "I understand he has a lot of support and I am backing his candidacy 100 per cent."
