Buchanan

DONALD Buchanan, whose rambunctious statements caused a stir during last year's general election campaign, ended his 14-month run as general secretary of the People's National Party (PNP) yesterday.

Mr. Buchanan had announced in 2006 that he would be retiring from representational politics. But in November of that year, he was coaxed into accepting the dual posts of general secretary and Information Minister following the resignation one month earlier of Colin Campbell in the aftermath of the Trafigura scandal.

Buchanan hails from the Pedro Plains region of St. Elizabeth. A veteran of the trade union movement, he joined the PNP in 1958.

He moved up the party ranks, with his first elected post being councillor; in 1989 he was elected as Member of Parliament for South West St. Elizabeth, a constituency he represented until 2002.

His other Cabinet positions were State Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Planning; Minister of Labour and Social Security; and Minister of Water and Housing.

The PNP is expected to name a new general secretary this month when its National Executive Council gathers for its first meeting of the year. Peter Bunting, Member of Parliament for Central Manchester and Senator Basil Waite are said to be the front-runners.