Daryl Vaz - file
Gareth Davis, Gleaner Writer
As the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) seeks to put its party-election machinery into high gear, the first of its four divisional conferences was held in Buff Bay, Saturday night.
All 26 polling divisions in Buff Bay were represented at the conference. The conference participants included indoor and outdoor agents, runners and polling division captains who are also given the responsibility of carrying out the enumeration process in that division.
JLP candidate for Western Portland, Daryl Vaz, said that the conference was a success and he was pleased with the high level of representation and interest which are being displayed by party workers.
?I am very impressed upon the realisation that all polling divisions are being accounted for,? said Mr. Vaz. ?This is a clear indication that Buff Bay is ready and prepared for whenever elections are called.?
The Buff Bay division is being represented by Councillor Gloria Silvera, who is seeking a second term in office at the local govern-ment level, having first won in 2003.
Mr. Vaz declared that whenever elections are called, he will hand his opponent, Abe Dabdoub of the People?s National Party (PNP) the beating of his life, which will indicate to the people of Jamaica that it is a poor candidate selection by the rival party.
Will win at least 3,000
?I am confident that I will win this seat by at least 3,000 votes in the upcoming general election. West Portland is now a garrison, and I also intend to work closely with my counterpart ? Dennis Wright, in East Portland ? to secure both seats for the JLP,? Mr. Vaz added.
But the JLP candidate did no his emotions, which were aimed at Mr. Dabdoub, and went on to state that when the seat in West Kingston is announced on the night of the counting of ballot boxes, the next confirmed seat will be that of West Portland.
The second of four divisional conferences is slated for April 8 in Hope Bay.
Correction & ClarificationIn an article published in yesterday’s Gleaner, it was suggested that Daryl Vaz, Jamaica Labour Party candidate for West Portland, had labelled the constituency a “garrison” while speaking at a divisional conference on the weekend. After further checks, however, The Gleaner is now confident that Mr. Vaz made no such statement on the political platform. We regret the misunderstanding and any inconvenience caused.
(See related article on the letter’s page on A7).
