When the dust settled in Portland Eastern’s closely fought election, one question rippled across social media: Did Vybz Kartel help swing the votes? The victorious candidate, Isat Buchanan, insists his narrow win over incumbent Ann-Marie Vaz was rooted in constitutional values and the cries of disenfranchised residents. Yet, the MP-elect’s well-known connection to the “Worl’ Boss” has sparked fiery debate about whether Jamaica’s most polarising entertainer still wields power far beyond the dancehall stage.
Buchanan, who once served as Kartel’s attorney during his high-profile trial, brushed aside the notion that celebrity ties propelled him to Parliament. “Way before Vybz Kartel, there were persons who I would have freed from an unjust justice system. Our Constitution is what won this election,” he told reporters. Still, the optics are undeniable: a lawyer who defended one of the island’s most influential cultural figures now represents Portland Eastern in Gordon House.
For supporters, the moment signals a blending of two worlds—dancehall meets democracy. Kartel’s name carries an almost mythical resonance among younger voters, and some university students argue that his endorsement, even by association, could not be ignored. “I think they were definitely influenced in some way. A lot of them probably voted based on the fact that Isat represented Kartel,” noted one University student, adding fuel to an already heated online conversation.
At the same time, others see Buchanan’s victory as less about Kartel’s shadow and more about timing, turnout, and party loyalty. Portland Eastern has long been a PNP stronghold, and despite Vaz’s “Action Ann” reputation for fixing roads, expanding water access, and launching vocational training, she lost by just 135 votes. “Substance over hype,” Buchanan declared, signalling his belief that deep-seated frustrations with inequality and corruption outweighed tangible development projects.
Whether Kartel’s legacy truly influenced the ballot box or simply provided a convenient talking point, Buchanan’s win highlights a new chapter in Jamaican politics—where cultural icons and political power increasingly intersect. For many Jamaicans watching this race unfold, the story is no longer just about votes and roads; it’s about how deeply the pulse of dancehall continues to shape the nation’s democracy.
