PORTLAND, Jamaica — In one of the most hard-fought contests of the September 3 General Election, the People’s National Party (PNP) has taken Portland Eastern after a tense official count that left little room to spare.
Isat Buchanan emerged ahead with 8,361 votes, narrowly outpacing the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Ann-Marie Vaz, who closed at 8,176. The margin — 185 votes — underscores how sharply divided the constituency has become.
The official review adjusted both candidates’ tallies: Buchanan added 45 ballots to his preliminary figure, while Vaz slipped by five. Though small, these shifts proved decisive in sealing the final outcome.
For Buchanan, the win signals a breakthrough in a seat long recognized as a political battleground. For Vaz, who had carried the constituency since 2019, the result is a setback that highlights the volatility of voter loyalty in the parish.
With Portland Eastern now shifting to the PNP, the constituency joins a national map that remains fluid, reflecting a political climate where every vote — and every recount — matters.
