Howard Campbell, Gleaner Writer
Harry Douglas, Member of Parliament for South East St. Mary during the People's National Party's presidentail election in February. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
HE MAY have been born on April 1, but Harry Douglas is nobody's fool. Those who doubted the veteran politician's clout got a big surprise last Sunday when he won an internal poll to represent the People's National Party in South East St. Mary in the next general election.
Mr. Douglas, 64, got 486 votes to beat Lorane Ferguson (245), Donovan Nolan (seven) and Patrick White who picked up six votes. Mr. Douglas' victory is a disappointment to some people in the constituency which he has represented in Parliament since 1989. In recent months, several of them have staged street protests, calling for him to stand by his vow and step down as Member of Parliament this year. But the combative junior minister in the Ministry of Water and Housing did not, and after the votes were counted Sunday at the Annotto Bay All-Age School, Harry Douglas was the candidate with the biggest smile.
"There are a few dissidents out there, but they bark upon the wrong tree," said Mr. Douglas yesterday. "After 26 years in the constituency, you will find even yuh best lieutenant saying, 'bwoy, a time yuh fi go now 'cause mi fi get some more an' yuh nah go mi some more'. A lotta them in the constituency is just me, myself and I."
HISTORY
Born in Bellefield district in the constituency, Mr. Douglas was a councillor for the division before he was elected MP in the 1989 General Election. Then, he defeated the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Alva Ross to end that party's 50-year dominance of the region.Mr. Douglas has held his seat in Parliament since, but last year he declared that after over 40 years he would leave politics. He says he had a change of heart after Brown, a University of the West Indies lecturer, decided not to be one of the candidates to replace him (Douglas). "I did step away, for two years and eight months," he said. "Chris Brown was the caretaker candidate, but then he resigned and the leadership of the party called me and said they can't afford to lose South East St. Mary, so I should reconsider."
That he did, and now that he has secured a mandate from PNP delegates, Mr. Douglas plans to improve the health and education sectors in South East St. Mary. He said the Annotto Bay Hospital and primary and basic schools in Enfield and Epsom, will benefit from a major repair programme. He said road repair, an area of discontent in St. Mary, will also be priority.
Although he is a son of the St. Mary soil, Harry Douglas' political career actually started in East Kingston, a PNP stronghold, where he was councillor for the Rae Town division. It was not until the late 1970s that he became involved in South East St. Mary. Mr. Douglas supported National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, in the PNP presidential race which was won by Portia Simpson Miller who became Prime Minister. He acknowledged that the sparring that took place during the campaign has left some wounds which still require treatment.
Despite that, he foresees a fifth straight general election victory for his party. "The PNP is preparing itself, we have to get back to basics and put our organisation in there," he said. "But we are still the best choice for Jamaica."
