Monique Hepburn, News Editor
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE RACE for Jamaica's Prime Minister P.J. Patterson's Eastern Westmoreland constituency has taken a new twist with officials of the People's National Party (PNP) declaring that one of the two candidates is not qualified to run for office.
Maureen Webber told The Gleaner yesterday that Leonard Green, attorney-at-law, is not a "financial member" of the PNP and, therefore, cannot run for office.
"A registered financial member of the party is determined by the Central Register of Groups and Members, which stipulates that one must pay the group membership fee and must do party work," Ms. Webber said.
She added: "If a person does not meet this criterion, he or she cannot run for office on behalf of the party and, to my knowledge, Mr. Green is not a financial member."
Ms. Webber declined to say whether the matter was up for discussion within the party's hierarchy but noted that constitutional stipulations would be upheld.
"We will not comment in detail on the matter, only to say that our intention is to stand by our constitution," she said.
Mr. Green is vying for delegate's selection against Councillor Luther Buchanan of the Westmoreland Parish Council's Leamington division.
