Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
( left - right )DAVIES and FORD
DISSATISFIED WITH the progress of the People's National Party (PNP) Region Three in recent times, activist Dr. Jephthah Ford is attempting to wrest control of the region from Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies.
Dr. Ford, who has been unsuccessful in several general elections as a candidate in North West St. Andrew, will run against Dr. Davies at this Sunday's regional conference, to be held at St. George's College in central Kingston. Region Three groups the 15 constituencies in Kingston and St. Andrew.
Several party insiders told The Gleaner that hardly any progress had been made in the region since Dr. Davies, the South St. Andrew Member of Parliament, replaced former Region Three Chairman Paul Burke, who did not seek re-election.
Contacted yesterday, Dr. Ford pointed to Dr. Davies' multiple responsibilities, including his primary portfolio as Finance Minister. Dr. Davies has also thrown in his hat in the PNP's presidential race.
AFFAIRS OF THE REGION
"He's also an MP in a constituency rocked by violence and with major projects going on there at this time," Dr. Ford told The Gleaner. "As a consequence, there's going to be a situation where there is just not enough time for him to pay attention to the affairs of the region."
Noting that he and the Finance Minister were close and will be so after the election, Dr. Ford, a family physician, said chairing Region Three required full-time attention.
He noted, however, that his medical practice would not prevent him from devoting the necessary time to the region.
"The political authority will allow me to go into some of these PNP communities which are at war with each other to bring unity," Dr. Ford stated.
Dr. Davies was unavailable for comment yesterday, but his campaign director in the presidential race, Donald Buchanan, said the Finance Minister has "served with distinction" over the past two years.
In defending the minister, the campaign director added that Dr. Davies was not the chairman when the PNP lost ground in the 2002 General Election and the 2003 Local Government Elections.
"He's rebuilding Region Three and he shall continue to rebuild it in that capacity until he's chosen to higher office by the delegates," Mr. Buchanan said.
