JLP diehard Paulette Buckham says Miller looks out for all as MP
Published:Sunday | June 29, 2025 | 12:08 AM
Born in a family with strong Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) ties, Paulette Buckham grew up seeing her father working diligently for the party as an activist in St Elizabeth.
Admitting that she knew nothing about the PNP in her formative years, Buckham said when she reached voting age, her father made sure she got enumerated.
It was no surprise that her first voting experience at 18 was for the JLP. She told The Sunday Gleaner that when she started to become aware of the policies of both political parties, the JLP’s plans resonated more with her.
“The JLP would rather give you work than for you to go and beg every week.”
Buckham, who is a cluster supervisor for the party in St Catherine South Eastern, said she is always campaigning for her party, whether or not elections are near. “I make sure as you turn 18, I carry you to get enumerated,” she said.
A resident of Waterford in Portmore, Buckham said after nomination day in the run-up to the 2020 general election, she lost her husband.
She said Member of Parliament Robert ‘Big Rob’ Miller was the first to visit her house to offer support to her family. “He is not just like an MP to me. Nobody knows if I called him,” she said, adding that he is a confidant.
The JLP cluster worker said Miller assists constituents whether or not they support the JLP.
Mr Miller helps everybody
“I am not going to say you wouldn’t probably get special treatment if you are a [JLP] worker, but Mr Miller helps everybody. You don’t have to ask me, you can come in the area and ask PNP people,” she said.
Buckham is confident that Miller will get a second term based on the work he has done in the constituency.
She told The Sunday Gleaner that the MP has made inroads in the Waterford Division, a PNP stronghold, as a result of the work he has done in that community.
“I’ll be surprised if he does not win Waterford based on the amount of work he has done here, based on the number of people he has assisted in this division,” she added.
Turning to an issue of concern in Waterford, Buckham said while it may be the purview of the municipality, the community centre is in dire need of attention.
“Nobody can use the community centre. You know, like a community centre where you can have a homework area and provide skills training, but it’s just over there one big, idle place. Rat over there big like puss,” she said.
The JLP worker said she would like to see the community centre repaired and reopened for the benefit of the residents.