Brewster devours Exeter in Central Leeward match-up

SHOUTS OF CELEBRATION echoed throughout the coastal town of Layou from late Thursday into early Friday morning, as droves of people left their houses in red attire to celebrate the victory at the polls of first timer, Dr Orando Brewster.

It was announced on Thursday night that Brewster, the Unity Labour Party’s (ULP) candidate for Central Leeward had garnered 2700 votes in the 2020 General Elections; 503 more than his opponent Benjamin Exeter of the New Democratic Party (NDP).

And the first-time candidate boasts the largest victory margin for the ULP, second only to Prime Minister designate, Dr Ralph Gonsalves, who beat his opponents in North Central Windward by almost 2000 votes.

“History has been made in this country in terms of electing back to the reigns of government, the Unity Labour Party. Also, in that Unity Labour Party, is a young man who hails from this constituency of Central Leeward,” he told the large crowd just after 1’o clock on Friday morning.Brewster devours Exeter in Central Leeward match-up

The Texier Road resident added that “it was the young man who had the toughest fight but at the end of it all, it was the young man who beat Ben Exeter, fair and square with over 500 votes and I must give a big shoutout to Central Leeward, the young people of Central Leeward. I love you; I am proud of you.”

Brewster also thanked the elderly who came out in their numbers to support him at the polls.

Central Leeward is considered to be a ULP stronghold and Brewster replaces Sir Louis Straker as its representative.

In the 2015 Elections, Straker won against Exeter at the polls with a 313-victory margin.

It was one of two constituencies thrown under scrutiny in the Election Petitions case, when Exeter challenged Straker’s victory by calling on the Court to hold that the result was void due to several irregularities. The court however found that it could find no evidence to support the major issues raised by the petitioners.

Following Brewster’s decisive victory, a caravan journeyed from Kingstown to Texier Road in Layou before heading back to the Layou waterfront for a brief jump-up.

People in the crowd could be heard shouting “Brewster, Brewster” repeatedly, while others blew on horns and cheered loudly through the streets of the Central Leeward town.

Others sat on their porches, adorned in red, as they looked on at the celebrations.

“Enjoy yourself, celebrate because…your young man from Central Leeward, the boy from Texier Road is walking into Parliament in St Vincent and the Grenadines as your newest representative for Central Leeward,” Brewster said.

Curtis King, another first-timer running on a ULP ticket also claimed victory at the polls in West St George against NDP’s candidate, Kay Bacchus-Baptiste. King replaces Cecil McKie as the area representative.

Having won the 2020 General Elections, the ULP will form government for a fifth time under the leadership of Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

The party won on Thursday, November 5, claiming nine of this country’s 15 constituencies.

ULP continued its celebrations on the ET Joshua Runway yesterday afternoon, November 6, which was declared a public holiday in honour of the historic victory.