Blythe chairs North West St James

By Keril Wright, Staff Reporter

Blythe

WESTERN BUREAU:

DR. KARL Blythe Minister of Water and Housing has assumed responsibility for chairmanship of the People's National Party's North West St. James constituency following the resignation of Senator Janet Madden.

Derrick Kellier, chairman of Region Six which comprises constituencies in the west, told The Gleaner on Tuesday that this decision was taken at a meeting of the party's executive on Monday.

"The executive took the decision to appoint Minister Blythe to assume duties until the executive appoints an assignee who will assume duties until a new chairman is elected," he said.

He noted that a new chairman would be elected in July at the constituency conference.

Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday from his Link-Up meeting in Montego Bay Dr. Blythe commented that as Vice President of the party with responsibilities for a number of parishes including St. James he would have automatically assumed duties until a new chairman is elected.

"I will meet with the party's executive next week and arising from that meeting we will be able to plan the way forward until I am relieved of the day-to-day duties," he told The Gleaner.

Minister Kellier also denied that the party was now in a mad scramble to identify new leadership for the constituency, with consideration for importation of a suitable candidate.

"A number of names are being touted on the street but the party has not officially approached anybody," he said.

However, according to one popular Montego Bay businessman who once contested a St. James seat as a Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate, he was approached and is now giving the offer serious consideration.

He told The Gleaner that he had to protect his credibility as a critical observer of the PNP administration. Party sources have also indicated that two attorneys and a popular talk show host are being eyed for the coveted north west candidacy.

Madden's resignation which was made public on Monday according to sources is another indication of the state of the party in the west; plagued by infighting between opposing camps.

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