Davis seeks to cement gains as Burchell rallies PNP comeback

WESTERN BUREAU:

The political spotlight is once again on the constituency of St James Southern, where incumbent Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament (MP) Homer Davis is set to face off against People’s National Party (PNP) newcomer Nekeisha Burchell in what could be one of the most closely watched battles of the 2025 general election.

Once a PNP stronghold, the constituency has undergone a dramatic political shift over the past decade.

Davis, after narrow defeats to long-serving MP Derrick Kellier in 2011 and 2016, secured a commanding victory in 2020 over Dr Walton Small, winning by more than 2,000 votes and sweeping all four divisions – Cambridge, Welcome Hall, Maroon Town, and Catadupa – for the first time in decades.

His path to Parliament was a steady climb: losing by just over 1,000 votes in 2011 (winning only Maroon Town), then gaining Cambridge in 2016 but falling short in the others. By 2020, the tide had turned. In that election, Davis posted clear wins across the board: Cambridge (2,595–1,551), Welcome Hall (1,316–1,002), Maroon Town (1,273–1,025), and Catadupa (2,061–1,717).

Now seeking a second term, he insists his record is solid.

“I’ve done a lot. The evidence is there. I don’t make things up. The people know me now. I’ve been tested. I’ve delivered, and they can tell you that for themselves,” Davis, a former long-serving Cambridge councillor, said.

Among his cited achievements are annual grants to 800 tertiary students, bursaries for 500 top PEP performers, modernised health centres in Cambridge and Roehampton, and over $600 million invested in water infrastructure through the Shettlewood system. He estimates nearly $2 billion has been invested in the constituency during his term, spanning health, education, water, and infrastructure.

No water for

over 20 years

“Areas that were without water for over 20 years are now seeing water in their pipes, not on a regular basis, … but the system is there. The Cambridge water system is slated for major development with funding from the Caribbean Development Bank,” Davis told The Sunday Gleaner.

“If I were to look at the amount of persons that have benefited from agricultural assistance and small business assistance, we have close to 3,000 people. When I got this constituency, it was not one that was booming. I have burned the midnight oil … my constituents are priority number one,” he said.

On employment, Davis highlights the registration of more than 400 young people, with 200 trained through HEART programmes. However, he concedes rural job uptake can be challenging.

“Not every young man you see in the country is looking for a job … . Some believe they can make more out of farming. The number one concern in St James Southern is water … . When all projects come on stream, at least 70 per cent of the constituency will have access to potable water,” Davis said. “I am not finished yet … .I have given this constituency my all. I have given them the best of my life.”

For first-time candidate Nekeisha Burchell, the decision to enter politics was driven by community demand.

“I didn’t set out to become a politician, … but South St James chose me. The people saw in me someone who understands the heart and hardship of this place, … someone they could trust to be present, to speak up, and to fight with conviction,” she said.

With experience in national policy and international development, Burchell, who hails from Garlands, positions herself as a modern, energetic alternative.

“I bring fresh energy, a broader perspective, and a drive to challenge the status quo. I’ve studied and worked around the world, but I’ve never lost sight of where I come from,” she added.

Her platform prioritises infrastructure, job creation, and crime prevention. She proposes developing agro-processing facilities, expanding vocational training, improving road networks, and addressing housing deficits.

“Many of our communities still lack proper roads, consistent water supply, Internet access, and decent housing. We must diversify our job market, build agro-processing facilities, support small businesses, and expand technical and vocational training,” she said.

Targeted youth engagement

Burchell promises targeted youth engagement, both online and in person.

“I don’t just want to engage young people and marginalised communities. I am one of them; representation must be participatory. This is my generation, and I will never stop showing up for them.”

Drawing on her previous role as technical and communications advisor to the Minister of National Security, Burchell lists contributions to national programmes like MOCA, the Stay Alert app, and Unite for Change. Locally, she points to efforts in youth mentorship, water advocacy, and housing support.

She’s confident that the PNP is regaining its footing.

“They’ve tested the JLP, and they’ve seen enough. The last election wasn’t a love affair with the JLP; it was a message to the PNP, … but hope is returning. The PNP base is back in full force, energised by a new generation of candidates.”

If elected, her first 100 days would see rapid audits, resource centres, and a constituency-wide water and housing plan.

“The first 100 days will set the tone. I am coming to work, not to wait. The people of South St James deserve urgency, honesty, and action.”

While Davis, a former mayor of Montego Bay, highlights significant development gains, not all constituents share his optimism.

Donna Blake of Long Corner in Mount Carey, who received a $50,000 small business grant from Davis, credited the support for helping her grocery business bounce back.

“It came at the right time and served as a cushion,” she said. “It has put me on a progressive platform for growth, ensuring the needs of my family and the wider community are met.”

But for others, the past five years have been defined by frustration over the pace and scope of change.

A lifelong resident of Maldon, 36 year old, Lisa Haughton remembers a time when the community felt more alive and say there are several things whoever wins the election will have to address.

“When I was younger, the community centres were active, the playing fields had life, and even though the water didn’t come every day, at least it came a couple days a week,” she told The Sunday Gleaner.

“In recent years, it has not been that way. No water has been in the pipe and we have to buy water from trucks, which is expensive,” she explained while arguing that infrastructure is a recurring sore point.

“The roads are in terrible shape, with potholes and craters everywhere. The farm roads don’t exist, and the bush at the side of the road grows so wild, it causes accidents. Mosquitoes live in the drains because there is no regular cleaning,” Haughton continued.

“There are streets the truck does not even visit because the roads are too bad or the light wires are hanging low,” she said.

Housing is another deep-seated concern. Several residents point out that apart from schemes in Maroon Town and Cambridge built decades ago, there has been no new housing for young families willing to stay in the rural constituency.

In other pockets of St James Southern, residents echoed similar frustrations – from Catadupa’s irregular water supply to Welcome Hall’s unpaved community roads.

albert.ferguson@gleanerjm.com