Daraine Luton, Sunday Gleaner Reporter

ST. CATHERINE Central is Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) territory. The JLP has not lost the seat since 1980, yet, Rohan Silvera is brave enough to take his political baptism there.

A resident of the constituency, Silvera is seeking to become Member of Parliament on a People's National Party (PNP) ticket, but he knows too well that he is an underdog in an area where Olivia 'Babsy' Grange rules supreme.

"It is a tough seat, but I don't feel like I am wasting my time," Silvera tells The Sunday Gleaner.

It is the first time he is contesting an electoral seat, and judging by the raw numbers, he stands no chance in this JLP den. But he says his presence there means more than just winning at this time. "I was born and raised there and I have a vested interest there. Whether I win or lose, I will still be doing politics here," he says.

Not JLP territory

In the 2002 General Election, 46 per cent of registered voters in that constituency cast a ballot, just about the same percentage as in the 1997 polls. Silvera sees this as an indication that the constituency is not JLP territory, but rather one in which most people who voted prefer the labour party.

"There are 20,000 people who did not vote there in the last election. People in the so-called middle-class communities have been turned off because of the way politics have run over the years and I am about convincing them to participate in the process," Silvera says.

Unlike many candidates who are investing millions in the printing of T-shirts, flyers, posters, etc., Silvera is convinced that campaign money can be better spent.

"It cost $220,000 to print a thousand T-shirts. If I do that, I will be wasting the money. The money can be better spent uplifting the community," he states.

Last time around Grange polled 9,208 votes to the PNP's Homer Whyte's 2,965.

Silvera says that the PNP, on the face of it, would have a 10 per cent chance in the constituency, but with the Portia factor, the party's chance of winning is about 30 or 40 per cent.

daraine.luton@gleanerjm.com

CLAUDE RIDDELL does not appreciate being called an underdog in the race for East Central St. Andrew, currently held by Minister of National Security, Dr. Peter Phillips.

"Iwould not characterise myself as an underdog. I would characterise myself as someone who has a fairly good chance of winning," Riddell tells The Sunday Gleaner.

East Central St. Andrew, created in 1967, was represented by People's National Party (PNP) founder Norman Manley. It has always voted for the PNP. The only time the constituency was represented by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) was in 1983 when the PNP boycotted the elections because of what it claimed was an electoral system that could not guarantee fair results.

Decreasing margin

Phillips has been the Member of Parliament for a decade now. However, despite being one of the PNP's garrisons, the 2002 election was scary for him as he watched his margin of victory cut from 5,356 to just over 3,000 votes.

Riddell, at the time of counting, led for the early rounds before Phillips pulled away for a comfortable win with 6,580 votes to Riddell's 3,467 votes.

"The constituency does not have a garrison feature anymore," Riddell says, adding that this will enhance his chances there. "It is characterised by a 30 per cent strong leaning to the PNP, a 25 per cent strong leading to the JLP. The remaining 45 per cent comprises individuals who have independent views."

Reflecting on the last election, Riddell says were it not for inexperience on his part and bogus voting, he would have put up a better showing.

Could go JLP

Now, with the promise of a more transparent electoral system, aided by electronic voter identification machines, he believes the elections could go his and the JLP's way.