CENTRAL WESTMORELAND is undoubtedly PNP territory and is not in the mood for change in the upcoming general election.

In 1959 as a result of an advancement in the constitution, 45 constituencies were provided for Jamaica, an increase of 13 over the 32 which had been fixed from 1944. Westmoreland Central was among the 13 newly-created constituencies as the parish received an additional seat.

The constituency of Westmoreland Central is bounded by the following:

From a point where the Westmoreland-Hanover parish boundary touches a straight line, through Black River Bush, south along the western side of this straight line through Black River Bush to the extension of the No. 23 St. John's Parish Council road then south. It next goes east along the extension of No. 23 St. John's Parish Council road and continuing south along this road to where the northern and eastern boundaries of Hermitage meet.

It continues south on the western side along the No. 23 St. John's Parish Council road to its junction with No. 22 St. John's Parish Council road, continuing southerly along the western side along the No. 23 St. John's Parish Council road to its junction with No. 22 St. John's Parish Council road, continuing southerly along the western side of No. 23 St. John's Parish Council road to the main road through Cornwall Mountain. From a point on the main road (formerly No. 7) St. John's Parish Council road) it goes through Cornwall Mountain to where it meets a reserve road which passes through Barneyside property. It then goes southerly along the western side of this road to where it meets the No. 20 St. John's Parish Council road, easterly and southerly along the western side of this road to where it meets the No. 20 St. John's Parish Council road to where it meets the No. 15 St. John's Parish Council road, easterly along this road to where it meets the No. 20 St. John's Parish Council road, northerly along this Parish Council road to the eastern boundary of Orange Hill. It then travels easterly along the northern side of this boundary and the southern Bushy Park boundary to Parish Council road No. 28, southerly along this road to the Whithorn/ Darliston main road. It goes easterly along this main road to the eastern boundary of Cairn Curran, southerly along the western side of this boundary to the Mount Ricketts boundary.

It then travels westerly along the Kentucky-Cave Mountain Road to Scotts Hill, along an imaginary line through Scotts Hill to the Savanna-la-Mar-Bluefields main road and to the sea, along the seacoast to the Cabaretta River at Big Bridge. From there it travels along the Cabaretta River to Parish Council Road No. 2, St. Peter's at Friendship Bridge, continuing along the Cabaretta River to Prospect Farm, northerly along the eastern side of Prospect Farm to the western boundary of Barham Mountain, northerly along the eastern boundary of Barham Mountain, Grange Estate and Blue Castle Mountain to the main road from Locus Tree to Flower Hill. It then goes easterly along the southern side of Blue Castle Mountain to the Hartford-Flower Hill main road where it meets Parish Council road No. 19, St. Peter's, along this main road to where it meets the parish boundary at Blackheath Mountain, easterly along the Westmoreland-Hanover parish boundary to the starting point.

Of the nine contested general elections in Westmoreland Central, the PNP won seven times to the JLP's one. The PNP's victories were in 1959, 1962, 1972, 1976, 1989, 1993 and 1997, the JLP winning in 1980. In 1997 Dr. Enoch C. K. Blythe polled 10,863 votes to defeat by 4,417, Trevor Brooks (JLP), who polled 6,446. Peter Massey, the NDM candidate, polled 791 votes. It is interesting to note that since the July 29, 1986 KSAC and Parish Council General Elections to the September 10, 1998 Municipal and Parish Council General Elections, (inclusive of all Parliamentary General Elec-tions), 1989, 1993 and 1997, the JLP has failed to elect one parish councillor or one member of parliament - a total shut out in the parish of Westmoreland. Will the electors of Westmoreland Central reopen their doors to the JLP in 2002? Hardly likely, as with only a small 3.2% increase in the number of electors on the voters' list of May 31 over the 1997 list, the incumbent Enoch C. K. Blythe is expected to defeat his JLP opponent once again by a convincing majority. Central Westmoreland is undoubtedly PNP territory and is not in the mood for change.

GENERAL ELECTION (PARLIAMENTARY) ­ PROJECTION 2002

General Elections (Summary) 1959-1997 WESTMORELAND CENTRAL