Close contest in Westmoreland Western
Published:Monday | April 14, 2025 | 12:11 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Dr Horace Chang, the general secretary of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has declared yesterday’s internal selection process in Westmoreland Western as a close contest.
He said a winner has emerged, but the party will not officially reveal the results until sometime today.
“It’s a close election. Somebody won, but we won’t declare anything until the full secretariat looks at the ballots tomorrow (Monday),” Chang told The Gleaner following yesterday’s internal selection process held at the Little London and Grange Hill high schools in the parish.
Garfield James, the councillor for the Sheffield Division who challenged Morland Wilson, the incumbent member of parliament (MP) for Westmoreland Western, claimed that while the preliminary results were outstanding, the results were in his favour after an exciting race.
“Based on the preliminaries (results), we are looking good in terms of coming out on top. However, I want to make it clear that we are all members of the same team, hence at the end of the day, respect at the highest level must be given to each and everyone,” James told reporters last night on the grounds of the Little London High School.
“At the end, the party’s interest is above self and we must work together in a way that unites us for the bigger picture, to ensure that we can retain the constituency for the Jamaica Labour Party,” said James, who is also principal of the Little London High School.
If James, who crossed the floor of the Westmoreland Municipal Corporation in 2023 to join the JLP, comes out the winner, JLP workers across the constituency would have made a decisive move in Westmoreland Western to replace Wilson with a former PNP councillor as the candidate for the upcoming general election.
The internal selection process, held on Sunday, saw an overwhelming turnout from workers across the five municipal divisions, signalling a clear demand for change.
Wilson, serving as MP since 2020, has been facing mounting criticism over his leadership, with party insiders citing a disconnect with grassroots supporters.
Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, the leader of the JLP, urged party members in the constituency to accept the result when the ballots are counted.
Approximately 600 party workers from five divisions in the constituency were expected to cast their ballots to decide between James and Wilson.