PNP supporters 'log on' in St. Andrew N Central
Trudy Simpson, Staff Reporter

Winston Sill/ Freelance Photographer Prime Minister and People's National Party (PNP) president, P.J. Patterson greets scores of supporters in Cassava Piece and surrounding communities. Mr. Patterson and the PNP's candidate for North Central St. Andrew, Barbara Clarke, second right, toured the area yesterday.

The ruling People's National Party (PNP) made their presence felt in sections of St. Andrew North Central for about an hour yesterday morning.

It was the second time the group was returning to the constituency as plans for a tour and meeting in the area were postponed last Thursday because of problems associated with lingering rains from Tropical Storm Lili.

Riding high in vehicles preceded by loudspeakers which blared the catchy soca PNP campaign song, "Log on to Progress" and the more mellow, "Don't stop the progress," PNP candidate for the constituency, Barbara Clarke, backed by party president P.J. Patterson, told residents in Cassava Piece and surrounding areas that the PNP is the best party for the job. They urged residents to show this by voting PNP on Election Day, October 16.

Braving glaring sunlight, the Prime Minister, wearing an orange cap and later shielded by an umbrella when the glare became too much to bear, touted Ms. Clarke and took pot shots at current opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Member of Parliament, Karl Samuda.

Mr. Patterson, who was also flanked by a strong security team and accompanied by his advisor Delano Franklyn and Christopher Castriota, the Water and Housing Ministry's community relations director, said that all the ideas contained on Mr. Samuda's list of achievements took place during the MP's stint in the PNP.

"He sent me his brochure as to why he should be returned as MP for North Central St. Andrew and from the front cover to the back cover, every picture in it is a picture of something that has been done by the PNP. There is nothing in it between 1980 and 1989. Everything in it is between 1989 and 2002 when he was Labour (JLP), when he was PNP and then when he lit his candle, sang his sankey and found his way back home," Mr. Patterson said, to whistles, rousing cries of "Power", "We say P.J.", "We nuh want Samuda" and "Log on to Barbara Clarke" from supporters.

"If the truth be told, every time I see him over there, ah feel sorry for him because I believe that he recognises that when he went back, he made a mistake but there is no way back," Mr. Patterson declared.

He later listed the PNP's achievements, crediting the party for bringing "every progressive change" and creating the best electoral system the country has ever seen.

"And those who used to win election by bogus, they are going to have lots of surprises. On election night, some gwine holler, some gwine bawl," he promised, to cheering from supporters who poured out of zinc-fenced homes to greet the Prime Minister and Ms. Clarke. They wore bright orange T-shirts and caps and bounced babies on their arms as the tour moved along Mannings Hill Road, taking in Cassava Piece and the nearby gully banks before ending along Constant Spring Road.

During the tour, the Prime Minister and his party marched with flag-waving supporters who were whipped into a frenzy of whistle blowing, dancing and jumping before dispersing nearby Manor Centre, on Constant Spring Road.

Among the supporters were several children and pre-teens, who were brought before Mr. Patterson and Ms. Clarke like sheep to a shepherd.

Some of the youngsters told The Sunday Gleaner that despite being unable to vote, they were out dancing and shouting with the adults because it was pure "enjoyment."

For her part, Ms. Clarke hailed Mr. Patterson as the leader who has given more homes, roads and put more water and light in the homes of Jamaican people than any other leader and added that the PNP has helped small businesses and made it possible for the elderly to get cheaper medication.