The challenge is on, with today being the long-awaited day for local government election, Portmore is seeing a heated race for the Mayor/Chairmanship as the Jamaica Labour Party, JLP, is seeking to vote out the long-sitting mayor, People’s National Party’s Leon Thomas and replace him with media personality Markland Action Edwards.
Mayor Thomas’s political journey began in 1998 when he was elected as councilor for the Hellshire division. Following the passing of then, Mayor the late George Lee, he assumed the role of acting mayor before securing victory in the 2016 mayoral election.
He is confident of victory because of the work he says he and his team have put in for the development of Portmore.
He pointed out that “Portmore has witnessed significant development initiatives, including partnerships with the National Housing Trust for housing rehabilitation, and infrastructure improvements.”
Which includes the creation of “sidewalks that were non-existent when Portmore was established, patching and rehabilitation of parochial roads, construction and expansion of drain walls, removal of zinc fences in Naggo Head, Newland, and Gregory Park, and the construction of community amenities like footbridges and taxi lay-bys.”
Thomas is confident of victory and says for the people of Portmore he is “Still working”.
Meanwhile, a hard-hitting Markland Action Edwards who is known in the media and gospel communities says “He is very confident the JLP will win Portmore,” as residents who have never voted are doing so and “The energy has been positive from morning.”
He explained that the residents of Portmore are ready for real good transformative leadership as he said Thomas “Cannot take credit for the development in Portmore, it is the Andrew Holness led government, doings.”
Markland says the residents are “Ready for a Mayor that will work with them.”
He is encouraging all to go on out before 5 pm and vote for the mayor of their choice, as he aims to create his for Jamaica to be the first JLP Mayor of Portmore.
Portmore is the only municipality where the residents vote for their mayor, which has only seen a PNP rep as Mayor since it was established in 2003.
