JLP Rocked by Crushing Losses in Westmoreland – Dr. Horace Chang Admits Party Must Face Reality

A political storm has shaken the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) to its core, after being swept out of all three Westmoreland seats it had proudly claimed in the 2020 general elections.

JLP General Secretary Dr. Horace Chang admitted on Nationwide at Five Thursday evening that the party has been forced to confront the harsh political realities of the electorate. He conceded that Westmoreland remains a fortress of support for the People’s National Party (PNP), despite Labourites’ hopes of holding the ground.

Preliminary figures from the Electoral Office of Jamaica paint a sobering picture for the ruling party. The PNP stormed to victory across the parish with decisive margins:

• In Western Westmoreland, Ian Hayles (PNP) crushed the JLP’s Dr. Garfield James by nearly 2,000 votes.
• In Eastern Westmoreland, PNP General Secretary Dr. Dayton Campbell dominated the polls with 7,558 votes, leaving Daniel Lawrence of the JLP trailing on 5,624.
• And in Central Westmoreland, Dwayne Vaz (PNP) rolled past George Wright of the JLP with a margin of 1,531 votes.

The results sent shockwaves through the JLP camp, with Dr. Chang describing the outcome as a disappointment but vowing that the party will regroup, rebuild, and return stronger in the next general election.

But the blow that stunned Labourites most came from the east. Dr. Chang admitted he was shocked by the downfall of East Portland MP Ann-Marie Vaz, who was toppled in dramatic fashion by PNP newcomer Isat Buchanan.

In a nail-biting finish, Buchanan polled 8,316 votes, edging out Vaz’s 8,181 by a razor-thin margin of just 135 votes.

The upset has sent ripples through the political landscape, with one Labourite in Portland declaring, “This one cut deep — nobody saw it coming.”