MONTAGUE, WOODBINE AND NEIL ALL EXPRESS CONFIDENCE
GAYLE, St Mary; August 18, 2025
The town of Gayle was turned into a big party space with hundreds of supporters of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP) taking over all the public and private spaces as they celebrated the nomination of their candidates on Monday, August 18, 2025.
Traffic was backed up in all directions in the town for at least one hour, with no movement, before police went into the square and worked hard to get the traffic going again.
(Robert Montague arriving at the Nomination centre in Gayle)
The political party supporters had first turned out to support their candidates being nominated to Contest the West St Mary Constituency in the September 3 Elections. Nomination took place at the Civic Centre in Gayle.
(Omar Woobine arriving at the Nomination Centre in Gayle)
The first person to be nominated was Chase Neil, representing the United Independents’ Congress (UIC) of Jamaica. Mr Neil said his party was giving Jamaicans a chance at good representation.
(PNP supporters on Main Street Gayle)
He was followed at noon by 47-year-old businessman Omar Woodbine, who arrived with hundreds of orange-clad supporters waving flags and blowing vuvuzelas. He said he was going to take the seat last held by Robert Montague.
(JLP supporters on Main Street, Gayle)
Mr Montague arrived close to 1 p.m. with hundreds of supporters clad in green, waving flags and ringing bells. He said he was sure to win the seat in the  September 3 Elections.
The supporters of the two main parties then converged on storefronts, the gas station in the square, bars and stores, as food and drinks were brought to them, and several stores and bars bought out. Music blared from speakers on vehicles and sound systems set up at various points along the road.
The partying meant lots of double parking, bad manoeuvres and driving that left the streets blocked for at least one hour.
