IN A nail-biting contest, the party that commands greater support among the new voters in Hanover Western, will surely win.

Thirty-two constituencies were fixed in the new constitution granted to Jamaica in 1944. Hanover Western was among them as the parish was divided into Western and Eastern.

The constituency of Hanover Western is bounded by the following:

From a point where the Lucea East River (Kew River) enters the sea, westerly along the seacoast to Lances Bay. It then goes south-westerly along the seacoast to Island Point, then southerly along the seacoast to where the Hanover-Westmoreland parish boundary meets the sea. From there it travels along the parish boundary easterly to Endeavour, then north-easterly along the parish boundary to the main road from Grange to Glasglow, then easterly along the parish boundary through Dolphin Head to where it meets the main road from Askenish. From there it goes along this main road to its junction with parochial road No. 21, Central, then along this road to where it meets the main road from Maryland to Cash Hill, then northerly along the western side of this main road to the Dundee Bridge over the Lucea East River (Kew River). It then goes along this river to the starting point.

During the period 1944-1997, there has been 12 contested parliamentary general elections in Hanover Western, the JLP winning six times and the PNP six. The PNP did not contest the seat in 1944, the JLP candidate Felix Gordon Veitch was opposed by five candidates, four of them being independents. Of the 8,237 accepted ballots, Felix Veitch (JLP), polled 3,200 (38.4%); William M. Dickson (IND.) who polled 2,421 votes was his nearest rival.

In 1949 the PNP candidate was "put to the sword" by William M. Dickson who replaced Felix Veitch as the JLP candidate. William Dickson polled 6,290 votes (72.4%) to 1,274 (14.7%) for Frederick Allen (PNP), and James B. Doran (AIP), 1,129 (12.9%). Since 1944 the honours have been shared between the JLP and the PNP in the 12 general elections in Hanover Western.

The JLP were victorious in 1944, 1949, 1955, 1962, 1967, and 1980; the PNP won the 1959, 1972, 1976, 1989, 1993 and 1997 elections. In 1962 the PNP lost the general election and the JLP won Hanover Western. In 1972, the PNP won Hanover Western and the JLP lost the general election.

In the 1980 general election, the PNP suffered a most humiliating defeat as the JLP polled 58.9% of the accepted ballots (national poll), and convincingly won the Hanover Western constituency. Horace Chang, JLP, by polling 8,265 votes defeated by a 2,627 majority, Roy Robinson (PNP), who polled 5,638 votes. In 1983 Horace Chang (JLP) was returned unopposed by acclamation, as the PNP did not contest the general election.

In 1989, Benjamin Clare by polling 8,578 votes defeated the incumbent Horace Chang who polled 6,096 votes, by a 2,482 majority. Benjamin Clare by this victory set the stage for a "hat trick" of victories for the PNP ­ 1989, 1993 and 1997. Horace Chang crossed the constituency boundary to East Hanover in 1993 as the candidate for the JLP only to be defeated by Francis Tulloch. It is interesting to note that Francis Tulloch crossed parish boundaries in 1997 to contest the North West St. James seat for the PNP and once again his opponent was Dr. Horace Chang. The results were not different as Francis Tulloch defeated Dr. Chang in a close contest with a majority of 1,252.

The JLP could be hard pressed to regain control of Hanover Western. However, the fact that all recent surveys, polls and projections point to a close contest the JLP could deny the PNP a record fourth term in Hanover Western. In another nail-biting contest the party that commands greater support among the new voters will surely win.

GENERAL ELECTIONS (PARLIAMENTARY) ­ PROJECTION

GENERAL ELECTIONS (SUMMARY) 1994 ­ 1997 HANOVER WESTERN