Ann-Marie Vaz anxious to get back to work in Portland East

Incumbent member of parliament for Portland East, Ann-Marie Vaz, has expressed confidence in winning her third election, while stating that she is anxiously waiting to continue the work that she started in transforming Portland East into a model constituency.

Vaz was addressing journalists on Monday following her nomination as the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) candidate in the parliamentary elections slated for September 3. Vaz will face off with attorney Isat Buchanan of the People’s National Party (PNP).

“I can’t wait for this to be over so that I can get back to the work of what we have been doing here in Portland," she commented.

“For me it is about the work that I can do for the people in Portland. In my next term, one of the critical things that I will be actively pursuing is the relocation of the Port Antonio hospital, which has outgrown its size in relation to the growth of our population and the level of investments that we are bringing to the parish," she added.

The constituency of Portland Eastern has been a favourite hunting ground for the PNP dating back to 1989, with victories also coming in 1993, 1997, 2002, 2007, 2011, and 2016.

Additionally, the PNP had success in 1972 and in 1976, losing in 1980 when Anthony Abrahams of the JLP defeated Keith Rhodd of the PNP, in what was arguably the bloodiest election in Jamaica's political history.

The JLP also had success in the 2019 by-election and the 2020 general election with Vaz.

- Gareth Davis

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