Nekeisha Orr, a young voter.

OLD-TIMERS in West Portland are like horses at the track wearing visors; they look only one way. Conversely, young voters are embracing opportunities.

"Is like yuh religion," one woman tells The Sunday Gleaner. "You don't change yuh religion and you don't change yuh party."

The elderly may turn out to be an important grouping of voters in West Portland if the March 23 by-election in the constituency turns out to be close.

Approximately 1,500 of the more than 18,000 potential voters are above age 80 and getting them to the polls could mean the difference between a win or a loss in a close election.

One People's National Party (PNP) election-day runner in Hart Hill, Portland, says that they will not leave any voter behind.

"We know where our voters are and we are going for everyone of them come election morning," the runner tells us.

voting early

It is clear that many of the elderly will not be waiting for strong men to assist them from their homes to polling stations.

Louise Baugh, 92, of Shrewsbury, in the interior of the constituency, says she will be getting up early to cast her vote.

"I am going to walk down there myself and I am going to vote early," Baugh says.

Just as anxious to exercise his franchise is Shandu Passley, a 24-year-old taxi driver.

"I want to know what they (political representatives) will do for us. My taxi break down and I have no money to fix it; I am looking for something else to do," he says, adding that many youths like himself will vote for the candidate they think can give them hope.

third contender

Daryl Vaz of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and Kenneth Rowe of the PNP are the main contenders in the by-election, which also includes Astor Black of the New Jamaica Alliance.

Black does not factor in the minds of many of the old voters; nor are the candidates of the PNP and JLP of any great importance as to how they will vote. These old-timers will vote strictly along party lines; the way they have voted all their lives.

Icilda Edwards, at age 101, is one of West Portland's oldest voters. When The Sunday Gleaner visited her at home in Hart Hill on Friday, Miss Icilda's ears had gone lazy but her niece Delphema Dennis, 88, said she had never missed an opportunity to vote. She has not ruled out the possibility of Miss Icilda voting in the by-election either.

Dennis is a diehard PNP supporter who is forever grateful to the party.

"There was a time when mi not doing anything and (Michael) Manley open crash programme and I work there and buy here (her house and property). Mi thankful to Mr Manley, so mi can't switch," Dennis says.

voted in seven elections

She would have voted in seven elections for the PNP in West Portland before being able to celebrate success.

Leopold Lynch, a JLP stalwart, held the seat for seven consecutive terms, from 1944-1976, when Leslie Birch won it for the PNP for the first time.

"Mi brave it out. Wi lose seven time and mi still stay deh and mi a stay deh 'til mi dead. Yuh a guh a yuh church and yuh a yuh member a yuh church, so hold on to yuh church," Dennis counsels.

Way in the hills of Shrewsbury where the evening breeze seems to be coated with ice, Baugh needs no one to convince her to stand firm.

"From mi start is one way mi vote. Mi a dat until now and mi not going to change - di party of Bustamante from di start 'til now, no changes," Baugh asserts.

lovelette.brooks@gleanerjm.com

Louise Baugh, 92, of Shrewsbury in Western Portland, has voted in every election held. - photos by Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer

Delphema Dennis, former 'crash programme' worker, says she will never change her party.