CONSTITUENCY PROFILE: ST. ELIZABETH SOUTH EASTERN

Pendulum points to a PNP victory
Anthony Myers
Contributor

THE POWER pendulum points to a PNP victory in the forthcoming general election. St. Elizabeth South Eastern was created in 1959 when, with the advancement in the Constitution, Jamaica was provided with 45 constituencies.

Of the nine contested Parliamentary General Elections 1995-1997, the PNP won eight times to one by the JLP. Like St. Elizabeth North Eastern this South East constituency has given strong and consistent support to the PNP going back to the period 1959, 1962 and 1967, when the name Burnett B. Coke reigned supreme. Derrick Rochester, his successor, had convincing margins of victory in 1972, 1976, 1989, 1993 and 1997.

In his 30 years in the political arena Derrick "Doc" Rochester tasted defeat only once. So fo rmidable was this veteran politician, that no opposing candidate was prepared to face him twice. Now that this outstanding parliamentarian has retired, his successor, whether PNP or JLP, will be hard pressed to maintain the vision, maturity and quality of judgement he exemplified during his tenure as the Member of Parliament for St. Elizabeth South Eastern.

This is another battleground constituency that will determine which of the two major parties forms the next government after the 2002 General Election. With the PNP refusing to quit, the JLP has to put its best foot forward to wrestle this marginal seat from the PNP. While a PNP victory is not set in concrete, the power pendulum points to a PNP victory.

GENERAL ELECTION (PARLIAMENTARY) - PROJECTION 2002

2002
E/L	21,025
A/B	15,220 (72.4%)
PNP	7,915 (52.0%)
JLP	7,305 (48.6%)
Majority (PNP)	610

General Elections (Summary) 1959-1997

1959
E/L	15,126
B/C	9,145
A/B	8,968
R/B	177
Burnett B.Coke, PNP	6,378
H.S. Spencer Hendriks, JLP	2,590

1962
E/L	12,117
B/C	8,957
A/B	8,874
R/B	83
Lawton C.Bloomfield, JLP	3,345
Burnett B. Coke, PNP	5,529

1967
E/L	10,492
B/C	7,991
A/B	7,936
R/B	55
Burnett B.Coke, PNP	4,374
Glen L. Mitchell, JLP	3,562

1972
E/L	11,686
B/C	9,120
A/B	9,073
R/B	47
Glen L.Mitchell, JLP	3,461
Derrick Rochester, PNP	5,612

1976
E/L	14,857
B/C	12,708
A/B	12,664
R/B	44
David Coke, JLP	5,368
Derrick Rochester, PNP	7,296

1980
E/L	15,698
B/C	13,901
A/B	13,582
R/B	319
Cecil Roy July, JLP	7,801
Derrick Rochester, PNP	5,781

1983
E/L	15,698
Jeremy A. Palmer, JLP	(elected unopposed by acclamation)

1989
E/L	17,638
B/C	14,354
A/B	14,306
R/B	48
Jeremy A. Palmer, JLP	6,144
Derrick Rochester, PNP	8,162

1993
E/L	16,954
B/C	12,451
A/B	12,408
R/B	43
Louis D. Powell, JLP	5,700
Derrick Rochester, PNP	6,708

1997
E/L	19,981
B/C	15,049 (75.3%)
A/B	14,816 (98.4%)
R/B	233 (1.6%)
Derrick Rochester, PNP	8,164 (55.1%)
Franklin Witter, JLP	6,160 (41.6%)
Earl Perriel, NDM	492 (3.3%)

NOTE:
E/L:	Electors on List
B/C:	Ballots Cast
A/B:	Accepted Ballots
R/B:	Rejected Ballots