West Kingston is the ultimate safe seat for the Jamaica Labour Party, in Jamaica and no PNP win or candidate is going to change that for now. Desmond McKenzie running for the seat for the first time romped home as expected with a 8942 to the opposition’s 1852, no surprises here for the hometown candidate and deputy party leader.
I recall that back in the 1989 election campaign and before and later that, it was one of Desmond McKenzie’s jobs to introduce the Jamaica Labour Party Leader on the political platforms during meeting and on the campaign trail or motorcades. He always did it to great applause with a rousing run through the full name of the party leader, Prime Minister and MP for the constituency of West Kingston. His ” Edward Phillip George Seaga” would be the signal that the party leader was about to take the stage.
West Kingston somewhat infamous in Jamaican politics at times, is where Seaga forged his political career. Seaga would hold the seat for decades.
After Seaga the constituency went to Bruce Golding former JLP prime minister, current party Leader Andrew Holness has his own constituency and perhaps the natural choice was for the party to give the job to McKenzie.
McKenzie served as a councillor for the area for many years and has served as senator.
McKenzie is Mayor of Kingston and St Andrew and in this expected election win he comes close to full circle as he seeks to represent the constituency of his mentor Edward Seaga.
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