Jamaica Labour Party supporters and People's National Party supporters engage in a verbal clash in Woodford Park, in the south east St. Andrew constituency on Tuesday, during a tour by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer

Member of Parliament for south east St. Andrew, Maxine Henry-Wilson, has declared she will defeat Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) caretaker, Joan Gordon-Webley, by more than 1,000 votes in the upcoming general elections to be held by year-end.

Touring sections of the constituency with Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller on Tuesday evening, an undaunted Henry-Wilson, who defeated JLP opponent Phillip Henriquez by 863 votes in the 2002 elections, said she was confident she would defeat Gordon-Webley despite what recent poll findings have been showing.

A Gleaner-commissioned Bill Johnson poll recently showed that Henry-Wilson and Gordon- Webley are neck and neck, with the latter leading the former by a mere percentage point, when those interviewed were asked whom they would vote for if an election should be called now.

Fully confident

Charging up PNP supporters, Mrs. Simpson Miller said she was confident that Mrs. Henry-Wilson would be returned as Member of Parliament to the constituency and that the Jamaican electorate would return her to serve as Prime Minister her for another five years.

"This is the winning combination, Portia and Maxine, Maxine and Portia," said Mrs. Simpson Miller.

But the political affair almost turned nasty when supposedly JLP supporters intercepted the procession at Woodford Park in the constituency. The community had been reported before to the Political Ombudsman for breaches of the political Code of Conduct because green flags were mounted in the area. But, Mrs. Simpson Miller calmed her supporters and asked them to show love to members of the opposing party.

"It is because they are worried ... when we going around the country we did not interfere with them. If they want to come out let them come out because when they see the love that you show to them they will drop the bells and they will drop the green and find their way to a party of peace and love," she said.

Today, Mrs. Simpson Miller will tour south east St. Mary.