Mark Golding, the Leader of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP), has pleaded with party supporters in Westmoreland to rally behind Westmoreland Central candidate Dwayne Vaz rather than succumb to infighting.

Prior to the 2020 general election, the parish of Westmoreland was considered a ‘safe’ PNP territory, with all three of its constituencies under the control of the People’s National Party. However, in the September polls that year, Westmoreland followed the trends being seen elsewhere across the country, with the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) completely evicting their rivals from the parish.

In Westmoreland Eastern, the JLP’s Daniel Lawrence defeated Luther Buchanan, while in Westmoreland Western, the political newcomer Morland Wilson secured a major upset by overcoming the longtime and well-reputed Wykeham McNeill of the PNP. Meanwhile, in Westmoreland Central, the JLP’s George Wright also achieved victory over Dwayne Vaz.

Despite these reversals, the People’s National Party, under Mark Golding’s tenure, has appeared to be making a comeback.

In the recent local government elections in February of this year, the PNP managed to secure all but three of the fourteen divisions in Westmoreland. This victory has greatly increased Golding’s confidence, alongside that of PNP General Secretary Dayton Campbell, with both men now determined to reclaim the western-most parish.

However, a notable concern among the seemingly resurgent PNP has been the looming prospect of infighting. In the run-up to and aftermath of the 2020 general election, the PNP has fallen victim to a seemingly never-ending spiral of internal conflict, ranging from the top brass of the organization on down.

While attending the Cornwall Mountain Division conference at Coke’s View Primary School on Sunday, August 11, Golding urged the supporters of the PNP in the area to avoid “keeping malice” and remain strong and unified in the face of the opposing party.

“I don’t want any grudge-holding, any belly-keeping about anything in the past. We have to put down those negative vibes right now,” said the opposition leader, who also gave special attention to Vaz.

Vaz has recently come under intense fire from within his own party over a recent scandal involving him. In late April, an investigation by the Integrity Commission (IC) was published and tabled before the parliament, accusing Vaz of not meeting the IC’s requests concerning his statutory declarations.

After a brief trial during which Vaz pleaded guilty for breaching the Integrity Commission Act, he was fined $250,000, becoming persona-non-grata for many.

‘Young Jamaica’ the youth arm of the PNP, demanded that Vaz be removed as caretaker for Westmoreland Central, but Mark Golding has remained firm in his support for him.

“Please, Comrades, I am asking you from the bottom of my heart, let’s pull together and support your candidate, Comrade Dwayne Vaz,” the opposition leader said last night. “He has done it before, and he can do it again. Come back and rally behind him, mi a beg unuh. We want this thing.”

As it stands, Vaz remains the PNP’s candidate for Westmoreland Central and is set to face off against the similarly disgraced independent George Wright in the upcoming general elections. Wright, though formerly a member of the JLP caucus, now serves as an independent parliamentarian, having resigned from the Jamaica Labour Party in 2021 after his wife levied charges of domestic abuse against him.