Tears of joy flow from father of political candidate

WESTERN BUREAU:

Tears of joy flowed freely down the cheeks of 75-year-old Egbert Burchell, as he made a Herculean effort to come out and see his daughter Nekeisha Burchell cast her vote in Garlands, St James, during Wednesday's general election.

Nekeisha, the People's National Party's candidate for St James Southern, was running against the Jamaica Labour Party's Homer Davis and the Jamaica Progressive Party's Leon Cunningham.

"My tears coming are not that I am sad, but I am rejoicing," said Burchell, who became emotional after casting his vote.

Burchell, who is unable to walk on his own, insisted on standing up beside his daughter with whom he shares a close bond.

"I am rejoicing, that I lived to see this day, and it is not a stranger, but it is blood. The Bible declares that you will not see your seed begging bread," added Burchell, who has served as the pastor of the King's Residence Apostolic Church in Garlands.

Nekeisha recounted that her father, who also operated his own suffered a stroke in July 2024, after he was admitted to the Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in Montego Bay.

"Daddy was working in his shop, where he makes furniture, and he got a cut on his thumb, and he was taken to CRH and was on a chair there for many days. He ended up getting a stroke and later on contracted bacteria in the [hospital] and that has left him unable to walk on his own any more," she explained.

Egbert Burchell was not the only physically-disabled person who participated in Election Day activities on Wednesday, as other participants of different ages came out with canes, wheelchairs, and walkers to cast their ballots.

Nekeisha noted that owing to her father's story and other similar tales from her neighbours, she aspires to make representation for persons who suffer from various complications.

"It is the hospital that serves this community ... this constituency ... and still today people are still sitting on chairs and on floors at the CRH. For us, this fight is not a personal notch on our belt, it is really getting hope and support for people who live here," said Burchell. "If they don't have a voice from someone who knows them and cares for them, then they are going to stay silent forever, and I am that voice for them. It is a tough job, but I am willing to fight."