Edmond Campbell, News Coordinator
An aerial view of Portmore. - Norman Grindley /Deputy Chief Photographer
The St. Catherine South East constituency has been held by the People's National Party's (PNP) Dr. Paul Robertson since 1993 when he whipped the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Kingsley Sangster at the polls.
After three consecutive election victories in St. Catherine South East, 22 per cent of eligible voters in the constituency have a favourable opinion of the outgoing MP. However, 37 per cent of respondents have an unfavourable opinion of Dr. Robertson.
A source close to the PNP says party stalwarts in the constituency are not confident that councillor for the Edgewater division Colin Fagan can bring home the seat in the upcoming election. Some even express the view that Dr. Robertson could clinch another victory over the JLP's Senator Arthur Williams if he (Robertson) chose to represent the party for the last time.
Dr. Robertson has indicated that he would be bowing out of representational politics at the end of his current tenure as MP.
The St. Catherine South East constituency comprises the communities of Waterford, Edgewater, Bridgeport, Independence City and Westchester.
A Sunday Gleaner team recently went on the ground in Portmore and talked with residents, including community leaders, who shared their views about the candidates and the performance of their outgoing MP.
Treasurer of the Westchester Citizens' Association, Earl Roberts, described Dr. Robertson as a "good steward", giving him a rating of eight on a scale of one to 10. In fact, Robertson received an average rating of seven out of 10 from a number of community leaders. "The limited resource that this man got to work (with) speaks volumes of his efforts," said Roberts.
Visible
The JLP's Williams is said to be visible in the Westchester community, but according to Roberts indications are that he would serve the community well, "the proof of the pudding is in the eating". Mr. Williams, however, did not get a satisfactory rating in Waterford as many claim that they do not know him. But president of the Waterford Citizens' Association, Baldwin Tulloch, said the JLP caretaker's colleague, Councillor Keith Blake, enjoys greater popularity among the residents.
Passage Fort, one of the foundation communities in Portmore, has demonstrated a level of independence and is cautious about soliciting the assistance of politicians in its community development initiatives. "We don't try to lean on politicians because politicians have their hiddenagenda," said Trevor Gayle, president of the Passage Fort Citizens' Association.
However, he admitted that both Dr. Robertson and Mr. Williams have demonstrated a willingness to support the community in various ways. Mr. Gayle said the residents of his community would find it difficult to make a decision on which candidate (Fagan or Williams) to support in the upcoming general election.
Recent polling done by Bill Johnson, on behalf of The Gleaner, reports 32 per cent of respondents saying they saw or met Williams over the past six months, compared to 28 per cent, who have seen or met Fagan.
Toll, pivotal factor
Although the toll issue in Portmore is not likely to influence voters' decision in a major way, the implications should not be ignored. The findings of the March 2007 Bill Johnson Poll reveal that 72 per cent of the people interviewed do not believe the toll issue will not factor negatively in their voting decision.
However, when viewed in the context of the close race between Williams and Fagan, the 22 per cent of respondents who are critical of the toll may prove pivotal to a win or defeat for either candidate.
Government and Portmore community leaders have had a running disagreement over the six-lane tolled motorway and bridge, commissioned last July. Critics of the project argue that the toll rates - from a low of $60 to a high of $200 - are putting a strain on their pockets, despite the pronounced benefits of easier travel time and less wear and tear on vehicles.
Alternative route
The residents took their case to court, arguing that the alternative route to commute to Kingston, the Mandela Highway, was not suitable, but the court ruled otherwise. The community leaders have continued their advocacy by sending Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller an eight-point petition asking for several changes to the operation of the Portmore toll road.
In addition to citizens' advocacy, a group of JLP councillors has taken the matter to court, and is now awaiting a hearing before the London-based Privy Council to argue, broadly, that replacing the free access road with a toll motorway breaches one's constitutional right.
Maria, a resident of Passage Fort, believes political fallout arising from the toll issue is inevitable. "You cannot afford to hit my pocket and expect that it does not hit you some where and where it hits you is my vote," she told The Sunday Gleaner.
However, a resident of Waterford welcomed the toll, saying prior to its establishment, Portmore residents languished in traffic for hours trying to exit the community.
