Dawes faces big to-do list in St Catherine South Eastern

For decades, residents of St Catherine South Eastern have heard promises of "better must come".

With Dr Alfred Dawes now member of parliament (MP)-elect, they say this time the slogan must finally turn into action. The surgeon-turned-politician unseated the incumbent, the Jamaica Labour Party's Robert Miller in the September 3 general election. The constituency covers large, working-class communities such as Waterford, Edgewater, Bridgeport, Portsmouth, West Bay and Cedar Grove. Before Miller's 2020 win, the seat was held by the People's National Party's Colin Fagan. Now, voters are voicing frustration over bad roads, poor garbage collection, and rising crime, and warning Dawes that their patience is short.

In Edgewater, a woman who has lived there for nearly 40 years admitted that she never thought Miller would lose.

"I know Robert, I never expect him to lose his seat. I have no idea how he lost, cya highlight what him do in the constituency either," she said. She pointed to the barren football field across from her home, where every kick sends up a cloud of dust.

"Mi want the road fix and that dust bowl deh so, dem need fi do something 'bout it. Whoever wah do with it, dem do with it, as long as dem get rid of the dust."

Nearby, Ricky Muhammed said the new MP must prove himself quickly.

"Drainage, road, same way for years. All dem look after is Waterford and Portsmouth. No party different. From mi likkle bit me a hear 'better must come', and all now mi cya see that. Dem need more young people in politics."

In Bridgeport, longtime resident Elroy, who has lived there since 1979, said the biggest frustration is uncollected garbage.

"To be honest wid yuh, mi nuh know him (Dawes), but I know Robert Miller. But I do expect him to prove to us why he won. Garbage truck? Sometimes all three, four months we don't see one. Them used to come two times a week. Now it very, very poor. We need a more present MP," he said.

But over in Waterford, voters were more optimistic. Hopal Carr, a resident of 38 years, said she backs Dawes but wants him to tackle crime and youth opportunities as soon as he can.

"Mi woulda love fi see him help the youths dem come offa the road. A since recently, elder get shoot up cause a stray shot. That's why mi want them fi focus pan crime."

In Waterford, gun violence was always a haunting reality, one that shattered a recent wake when masked assailants opened fire on a roof along Elmor Way, sending four people to hospital, including a teenager and two elders. Recently, Jamaica had recorded just over 400 murders, a 42 per cent decline compared to the same period in 2024.

For residents like Carr, the threat isn't abstract, it's too personal.

"Right now dem make me wah run weh from yah. Mi likkle grand toddlers dem a come up, we want a change."

Dawes campaigned on a platform that preached infrastructure, youth development, and community programmes, highlighting parks, mentorship, and sports. The expectations he now faces are steep.

As Carr put it,"Fix the crime, fix the roads, and prove that this time, 'better must come' is more than just a slogan."