Noel Thompson, Freelance Reporter

Heather Hibbert (left) and Sheniek Frazer show off their inked fingers at the Yallahs Primary School polling station after casting their votes on Monday in Western St. Thomas. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

JUNCTION, St. Elizabeth:

Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) supporters in South East and South West St. Elizabeth were in a celebratory mood from early Monday afternoon as they demonstrated confidence that their candidates, Franklyn Witter, and Dr. Christopher Tufton, would be victorious at the polls. Both candidates won, Dr. Tufton by a margin of over 2,000 votes in South West.

In every nook and cranny between Junction and Black River, 'Labourites' and 'Comrades' were in high spirits - honking horns, revving their bikes and shouting party slogans 'shower' and 'power'.

Election day was, however, not free of incidents as a People's National Party (PNP) supporter, Anthony Brooks, was injured when a bottle was thrown in his face. It was allegedly thrown by a JLP supporter who was travelling in a pick-up. Brooks, of Bull Savannah, wastravelling on the back of a truck when he was hit.

Anger and shock

In another incident, at about 9:30 a.m. Monday, two Coaster buses with PNP supporters travelling from St. Thomas and Kingston, drove on to premises in Junction, stating to be in South East St. Elizabeth at the invitation of the PNP candidate, Norman Horne. The passengers became irate and expressed shock upon seeing the press. "I am upset, something has gone wrong, this was not the plan. Dem neva tell wi say the press was going to be here," a pregnant woman blurted out.

Some three hours later, the same buses and the occupants went into Tryall district where they were detained by residents and two Jamaica Defence Force soldiers. A police party was summoned and, on arrival, searched and questioned the occupants who gave conflicting stories. The police ordered them to leave the parish and subsequently escorted them out of the area.