His youthful look belies his age and professional accomplishments, but at 40, Dr. Donald Rhodd, the People's National Party's candidate for East Portland, believes he is capable of effecting the man's job he has on his hands.

An ophthalmologist by profession, Dr. Rhodd has his eyes set on defeating all of four challengers in the upcoming polls.

His conviction, he says, is fuelled by a desire to help fashion national development through his party, which he claims to be the most promising agent of national growth locally.

Dr. Rhodd, a government Senator, was nominated along with the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Sam Roberts, the National Democratic Movement's (NDM) Mernell Lindner, and independent candidate, Percival LaTouche, for the East Portland showdown on December 18.

But, although riding the tide of the ruling PNP, the husband and father of three has admitted that there is absolutely no room for complacency in his bid to reach the Lower House of Parliament.

Banking on experience

He is banking heavily on political experience gained from as far back as 1975, when he helped his dad, Keith Rhodd, with his campaign, one which saw him winning the same seat a year later. Since then he has honed his skills working with the likes of Dr. Peter Phillips and St. Catherine Member of Parliament, Fitz Jackson, in their maiden but successful by-election bids for parliamentary seats.

Dr. Rhodd was also campaign manager for Sam Lawrence, whom he has replaced in East Portland, in Lawrence's successful run to power there in 1993.

For the homestretch, Dr. Rhodd is operating directly from his abode in Sherwood Forest, almost in the middle of the constituency, where he has been fully based since he took leave of his practice in Kingston to concentrate on the elections at hand.

Claiming to be a team player who sought specialised management training to enhance his capabilities as a political representative, Dr. Rhodd could hardly hide his expectations of a prominent post in Government, should his party be returned to power, in a recent interview with The Gleaner.

Like his opponents, he pledged his first loyalty to the constituents in a recent interview with The Gleaner. However, he emphasised that party loyalty is also of key importance, outlining that if, for example, he lands a Cabinet post, he would be bound by the principle of collective responsibility.

"Then you often have to try and convince constituents of the wisdom or necessity of Government positions," he said.

In admitting to deficiencies in infrastructural development in the constituency over the years, Dr. Rhodd said this would be his top priority if elected to office. This includes matters like road, water supply schemes and sewage treatment.

He has grand plans for the parish to spearhead a national plan to develop Jamaica into the centre of education in the Caribbean and Latin American region.

And what of his view of the challenges being mounted against him?

Opponents campaigns

Dr. Rhodd, like many of his supporters, has been taking heart in the relatively unimpressive reception to all of his opponents' campaigns so far. But, if the truth be told, his own showing has not exactly ignited his section of Portland either, judging by reactions from a wide cross-section of constituents during recent Gleaner visits to the area,

The JLP's Roberts, meanwhile, has his own late start in the race; fussing within his ranks, other displaced candidates within the party, and the handicap of low showing by his party in the national polls, to contend with.

The NDM's Lindner is a newcomer to representational politics and has still not got the sort of organisation off the ground to make any real dent on the election outcome.

Independent candidate LaTouche, inspite of launching his office weeks ago with a declaration that he means business in the seat, will be hard pressed to beat the local independent jinx in elections.

So, although still to move clear of all his rivals, Dr. Rhodd, by virtue of the steam-rolling PNP train in the East, is expected to come home with at least a marginal victory.