Daryl Vaz, who is seeking re-election as Member of Parliament for West Portland, believes he and his wife, Ann-Marie Vaz, will retain their seats on September 3, given that their significant contributions since the 2020 general election have transformed Jamaica’s greenest parish.

Vaz, in numerous capacities as Cabinet minister in the Andrew Holness-led administration, says he has served, worked for, loved, defended and respected the people who have in return served him and his wife.

“That is what I have done for 18 years. Five terms or five elections; four elections and one by-election: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2016, 2020 and next week Wednesday, [September 3] 2025,” Vaz said during his address at a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) parish meeting in Portland Sqaure last Saturday (August 30).

“While I was working in West Portland for 18 years, after 18 years of PNP leadership up to 2007, East Portland was suffering for 30 years of unprecedented PNP neglect, and you know what happened, in 2019, there was a by-election because of the unfortunate and untimely death of the then MP, may his soul rest in peace, but because of that, my wife, Ann-Marie Vaz, Action Ann, was able to beat the most popular person in the PNP at that time. when everybody said it wasn’t possible, and we gave him Damion ‘Goat Man’Crawford a beating that we have never forgotten and will never forget as long as he lives,” Vaz said.

He then commended his wife, who won in 2019 and 2020, and is now, according to him, “one of the best MP representatives of the 63 Members of Parliament in Jamaica”.

He also boasted that in the 2007, 2009, 2011, 2016, and 2020 elections, no one returned from the PNP to run against him twice.

“As dem get beaten, dem tek bush same night. Never to return. You know why?… Mi name weh mi name and mi name can’t change. Mi name Mr Portland fi life!” he boasted.

He noted that, unlike him, who came from a privileged family in Kingston, his wife did not, which makes her more passionate about the work as an MP.

“So, when dem talk bout East Portland under pressure, because East Portland a PNP, I am fully confident that her work showed everybody who she is. Her passion, her love for people, and the fact that she came from humble beginnings, so she understands each and every one of you and what you go through everyday,” he said.