As if preparing to bid temporary goodbye to Daryl Vaz (front row, left), fellow Jamaica Labour Party members of Parliament Robert Montague (back turned), Othneil Lawrence (Back row, left) and Franklyn Witter (right back row) engage him in a discussion on February 19, the day Vaz's stay expired in Parliament, Gregory Mair (centre back) who has an election petition challenging his eligibility hanging over his head, and Joseph Hibbert, MP for East Rural St Andrew, seems uninterested. - Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Even before Friday's ruling by the Court of Appeal, the Opposition People's National Party (PNP) had rushed into West Portland to set up camp as it took aim at the West Portland seat.

"We will give the election in West Portland our best shot and the results will speak for itself," PNP deputy general secretary Luther Buchanan told The Sunday Gleaner.

Up to press time yesterday, the PNP had not decided whether Dabdoub would be the party's standard-bearer in the election. Vaz as been confirmed as the JLP's candidate.

The leadership of the PNP, minus its president Portia Simpson Miller, began traversing hilly and coastline communities in the constituency after Friday's ruling by the Court of Appeal.

At the same time, the JLP has planned a mass meeting for Buff Bay today. The party has also began door-to-door walks and has kick-started a media campaign.

Vaz is already counting his chickens and is aiming to bring out close to the 7,000 voters who voted for him in 2007.

Defending the Constitution

"My aim is to bring out the same support that I did in 2007 and to ensure that I capitalise on the inactivity of the PNP in the constituency since September last year," Vaz said.

"There is a group on the ground that I call 'Comrades for Daryl', who won't vote Labour Party, but are unhappy with the representation in West Portland and may send a protest by not voting.

But Buchanan said the voters understood Dabdoub's absence.

"It is a fact that Abe Dabdoub was not as visible as he should have. The party's position on the Constitution has been clear and he has been extremely busy defending the Constitution on behalf of the PNP.

"The PNP workers of West Portland truly understand now that they have been explained to, the reasons for the absence of Comrade Abe Dabdoub, and are ready and prepared to return the PNP to represent that constituency," Buchanan said.

The PNP had held the West Portland seat for 18 years through Errol Ennis, before Vaz marched into the eastern parish and sketched his name on the MPs' roll.

Dabdoub made a late entrance into the seat after the PNP had difficulty finding a candidate and won more votes for the PNP in West Portland than any Comrade had ever done.

Vaz, though, was imperious in winning the seat, taking all four divisions in the constituency. He won St Margrette's Bay by 219, Hope Bay by 240, Buff Bay by 401 and the PNP backyard territory of Balcalares by 84.

Real performers

However, the PNP said it was confident of winning back all the divisions, with the exception of Buff Bay.

But political historian, Troy Cain, said the PNP could forget about West Portland for a while.

"I think Abe's only chance was if the court had given him the seat," Cain said. He argued that West Portland, except for the unbroken 18-year reign of Errol Ennis from 1989 to 2007, and the 1976 stint of Leslie Birch, does not have a strong PNP heritage.

"Add to that the fact that Vaz is emerging as one of the real performers in the administration. In a new JLP administration where the MP is a performer, I don't see any grounds on which the PNP could think they have a real chance. In fact, I think that he may increase his majority to well over 1,000 votes."

Meanwhile, Vaz has admitted that the strength of the PNP in the constituency is not to be underestimated.

"The result in 2007, by them getting over 6,000 votes was absolutely amassing to me based on the fact that the victory totals prior to that was less," Vaz said.

Despite winning the constituency, 2007 was the first time that the PNP has amassed over 6,000 votes.

And as the constituents prepare for the polls in the March 23 by-election, Vaz is mindful of the strength of the PNP in the constituency.

"In 2007, with all the challenges facing that constituency and with a non-candidate, the PNP definitely showed that it is a hard-core PNP base, but based on the performance that I have given, they have something to judge," said Vaz, while adding that he would not be happy if he did not increase his margin, at least to 2,000.