Adrian Frater, News Editor
Left: Former Prime Minister and ex-Member of Parliament for Eastern Westmoreland, P.J. Patterson (left), People's National Party candidate Luther Buchanan and Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller walk with supporters in Darliston, Westmoreland, yesterday. They were returning from the Darliston Primary School where Buchanan was nominated to represent the PNP in the June 7 by-elecion.
Right:
(From left) Karl Samuda, general secretary of the Jamaica Labour Party, speaks with Evadney Brown-Smalling as Don Foote signs nomination papers to represent the party in the Eastern Westmoreland by-election on June 7. Beside Mr. Foote is his wife, Marcella, while his son, Ian, looks over his shoulder. - PHOTOS BY ADRIAN FRATER
WESTERN BUREAU:
DESPITE YESTERDAY'S heavy rains in Darliston, Westmoreland, pomp and pageantry reigned supreme as the Nomination Day exercise for the June 7 by-election to elect a replacement for retired Prime Minister P.J. Patterson in Eastern Westmoreland unfolded.
At the end of the nomination exercise at the Darliston Primary School, the People's National Party's (PNP) Luther Buchanan, the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Don Foote, and Independent candidate Ras Astor Black had all handed in nomination papers, confirming themselves as the three contenders for the seat.
MASSIVE MOTORCADE
After a morning which saw rival JLP and PNP supporters driving around the town waving party flags against a background of blaring reggae music, the excitement was amplified when Mr. Foote arrived at the nomination centre at approximately 11:20 a.m. in the middle of a massive motorcade.
Amid much fanfare, Mr. Foote descended from the large enclosed green trailer, in which he, his wife and three sons had arrived, and was warmly greeted by JLP stalwarts Karl Samuda, Anthony Johnson, Clive Mullings and Dr. Horace Chang.
Ras Astor Black, who arrived at midday accompanied only by his campaign manager Jennifer Nugent, got caught up in the JLP motorcade but was warmly greeted by the Labourites, some of whom openly joked about the seriousness of his candidacy.
After the lull that followed Astor Black, the excitement again reached fever pitch when the PNP's candidate Luther Buchanan, flanked by Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller and former Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, arrived during a heavy downpour shortly after 1:30 p.m. They were ushered into the nomination centre under umbrellas.
Mr. Patterson, who served the constituency for over 30 years, declared his availability to assist Mr. Buchanan on the campaign trail, and said he was quite confident that the PNP
will be successful in the upcoming by-election.
