Dionne Rose, Staff Reporter
Residents of Majesty Garden hail Portia Simpson Miller, Member of Parliament for their south west St. Andrew constituency on Sunday, a day after her victory in the People's National Party presidential election. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
MANY RESIDENTS of south west St. Andrew feel a sense of pride and joy that their Member of Parliament, Portia Simpson Miller, has been elected to the top post in the People's National Party (PNP).
To them, this significant and historic moment is like a rainbow - representing a promise that, finally, their impoverished communities will be physically improved and jobs provided for many.
For the outsider looking in, Sunday seemed like a normal morning in that constituency. There were no visible celebrations taking place but various groups seen hanging out on the corner, listening to blaring music, indicated that it was indeed a moment of celebration.
In Whitfield Town, one of the several communities in Kingston, which make up Mrs. Simpson Miller's constituency, residents were happy she was successful in her bid for the party presidency.
Desmond McDow is one such hopeful young man. "Good for her, just hope that it is good for us as well," he told The Gleaner when asked how he felt about her win.
"We expect a lot of things ... improvement and all that ... mi happy fi her still, but a lot is yet to be done same way," he said. "(We) want job provision and opportunity on a whole so the youth dem can get work and the community can lift up more."
WAIT-AND-SEE SITUATION
Donald Bailey, also from Whitfield Town, was happy for Mrs. Simpson Miller. But for him it is a wait-and-see situation as to whether her community will benefit from her elevation.
"Mi glad she win," he said, "We a go watch and see whe she a go do fi her constituency."
In Majesty Garden, near Three Miles, which was renamed the Portia Simpson Miller Square some years ago, many women and children also expressed their happiness.
Many of them shouted, "Sista P, we love yuh! Portia! Portia!" when the news team arrived in the community. Many of them listed the expectations they have of her.
"She have Majesty Garden pon plan right now, she a go develop the community, football field, basket ball court, is all about Sista P," said Denton Parker.
Several women in that community also expressed their joy at her win.
"We feel good, 100 per cent good," said Sonia.
"She should get it long time, as a woman she nice. She will make nuff difference better than the man dem," added another woman.
They claimed that, because she did not previously hold a good position in the party, she was unable to do more for her community.
