PNP to choose St James candidate

By Keril Wright, Staff Reporter

WESTERN BUREAU:

THE PEOPLE'S National Party (PNP) intends to settle the issue of its west central, St. James candidate for the upcoming general elections in two weeks, according to party vice-president Dr. Karl Blythe.

Dr. Blythe told The Gleaner that selection of the candidate from among the contenders, incumbent Mayor of Montego Bay Councillor Hugh Solomon and his predecessor, Arthur Gilchrist, would be settled before the end of this month.

"We will be settling that issue over the next two weeks," the Minister said, in response to queries at a meeting in Montego Bay last Thursday. The vacant position was created in February 2000 after Member of Parliament Arthur Nelson, who has served two consecutive terms, announced that he was leaving representational politics.

Subsequently, Mayor Solomon, former Mayor Gilchrist and Deputy Mayor Gerard Mitchell, who has subsequently withdrew his candidacy and thrown his support behind Mayor Solomon, indicated interest in leadership of the rural constituency.

A party source said there has been a delay in the selection process, which one executive member told The Gleaner was hampering their campaign programme in that constituency. "We were initially informed that the issue would be settled within three weeks, but that has come and gone. We definitely need the party to set a date because this is hampering our programme," the source said.

Mr. Nelson, who is preparing to demit office, told The Gleaner that he was desirous the party select a candidate. He said the process of selecting a candidate would most likely include consultation with party leadership in the constituency and subsequently a polling of votes by the delegates.

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