Unity on display in Kingston Western

Green and orange walked side by side yesterday as the incumbent Desmond McKenzie was nominated to vie for the Kingston Western seat.

The veteran Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) politician submitted his papers at the Incomparable Plaza on Spanish Town Road, where supporters from both major parties mingled. Kingston Western has long been etched into Jamaica's political memory as a place of partisan warfare and entrenched loyalties. Communities such as Tivoli Gardens, Denham Town, Hannah Town, and Greenwich Farm have carried the scars of political violence from as far back as the 1970s, when clashes between JLP and People's National Party (PNP) loyalists turned the area into a frontline of the Cold War-era rivalry. Even in more recent times, notably the 2010 Tivoli incursion, which left scores dead, the constituency has been synonymous with violence and political division.

But yesterday, the tone was markedly different. Supporters who gathered for McKenzie's nomination spoke less about party colours and more about unity. Sheena, a lifelong resident of Denham Town, said that for too long the area had been defined by war.

"A so it fi be long time. War and violence cya help none a we, worse me have seven children," she said. "Better we a look fi di yute them, but right now, [Prime Minister Dr] Andrew [Holness] a you say youths and unity."

Sheena noted that her friends from the PNP turned up to support her and her family on Nomination Day.

"We ancestors dem goodly a roll inna dem grave. Mi grow up and see we family war over politics and me feel good fi see say she come support we inna her party colours," she said.

Her words mirrored the crowd itself. The gathering saw green and orange clad supporters embrace in a way once considered unthinkable. Men and women in party colours hugged and danced together.

"Mi grow up hear gunshot between green and orange. Now mi glad fi see di man dem a walk side by side. If McKenzie can make that happen, him deserve credit," Sheena added.

McKenzie, who first won the seat in 2011, is no stranger to Kingston Western's turbulent legacy. His political footprint here stretches back decades, from his early days in local government representing the Tivoli Gardens division, to his tenure as mayor of Kingston.

Carlton, a Tivoli resident in his 50s, gave credit for McKenzie's longevity.

"Desmond been here long before some a we born. Mi cya say him never do nutten fi di place. We get housing fix up, road sweep, basic ting weh keep di community going." Others framed McKenzie as more than just a politician.

"Yuh affi give McKenzie him respect. Him nuh just a politician, him a elder inna di place. People see him like a bridge between government and we," said Paul, a Tivoli Gardens resident. "One ting wid Desmond, him straight. Him nuh mek no promise weh him cya deliver. Sometime him rough, but at least yuh know weh yuh stand." But others argued that while McKenzie has done much, the constituency's needs remain plenty.

"Is not just light and road, we want jobs fi di youths," said Dwayne, a youth from Greenwich Farm.

In the 2020 general election, McKenzie secured over 8,400 votes to the PNP's Joseph Witter's 882. Witter was also nominated yesterday.