Smith respectful, but says Valentine will be his 7th victim

A David versus Goliath-like battle is on the cards for North West St Andrew where trade unionist Granville Valentine is taking aim at Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) stalwart Derrick Smith in the December 29 general election.

Valentine, who served as chief union delegate at Jamaica Flour Mills for several years, left his job in 1999 to become a union officer at the People's National Party (PNP)-affiliated National Workers Union (NWU).

There he won many battles around the bargaining table and was eventually elected as a vice-president of the union, which was actually created by the PNP in 1952.

Valentine has, for a long time, been a member of the PNP's National Executive Council and was a key member of the group of comrades who helped to propel Portia Simpson Miller to the leadership of the PNP.

While his successes as a trade unionist have been reasonable, his entry into representational politics in 2009 did little to boost his image. At that time, he was selected by the PNP to challenge the JLP's Gregory Mair who, having won the St Catherine North Eastern seat in the 2007 general election, was forced to step down as a result of a court ruling declaring him ineligible to sit as a member of the House of Representatives because he held Venezuelan citizenship.

In the subsequent by-election, Mair trounced Valentine, by all of 2,600 votes to retain the seat.

But Valentine remained close to the PNP and a few months ago received clearance to begin ground work in Smith's JLP stronghold of North Western St Andrew, which includes communities such as Maverly, Pembroke Hall, Meadowbrook, Patrick City, Queensborough, Three Oaks and Hughenden.

His objective, he says, is to unseat Smith who has had the seat since 1989. The PNP candidate says his foray into representational politics in 2009 has prepared him for the upcoming contest.

"It is my view that you must wet your feet first before you start thinking of going in a full-fledged election," he said in an interview with the Sunday Observer. "I learnt a whole lot, that money could not buy. That has prepared me for this election, and I would hasten to say, it's a different kettle of fish."

The constituency, he says, is made up of mostly middle class people who have suffered from what he alleged was the absence of their member of parliament. "I have lived in this constituency for at least 20 years, so I know the issues for myself, I understand them. The issues and interests of the people have been neglected and they have taken the people for granted, believing that every time they are going to win," he declared.

"One must be judged by performance, and where he (Smith) is concerned there is absolutely nothing to show. We have one of the worst road networks in Jamaica. We have roads in Pembroke Hall, for example, where people live but have to park on other roads as they can't drive to their homes due to the poor condition of the roads," he added.

The PNP candidate argues that while Smith has been able to win the seat, a significant number of voters chose not to mark a ballot. "In 2007, he (Smith) got just over 5,700 votes. You are talking about a constituency with almost 27,000 voters," he said.

Valentine said he has been meeting with residents in the many communities that make up the constituency, adding that the need for youth empowerment, job creation, education and training are among the main issues on his to-do list if he becomes the member of parliament.

When news surfaced in September that he would be stepping away from representational politics, Smith — a former national security minister as well as a former minister with responsibility for mining and telecommunication — rubbished the claims, and in a recent interview told the Sunday Observer that he had no plans to leave representational politics anytime soon.

Health issues, including complications arising from diabetes, forced the affable Smith to spend time away from office during 2008 as he sought medical attention in the United States.

Upon his return to Jamaica from a few medical trips that same year, Smith gave up his national security portfolio to Col Trevor MacMillan (now deceased), just eight months after the JLP won the 2007 election, and moved over to the Ministry of Mining and Telecommunications.

However, the health challenges continued and Smith later demitted office as minister.

He said his love for representational politics and the countless unfinished projects that he wants to complete are among his main reasons for deciding to stay on as member of parliament.

Speaking with the Sunday Observer, he admitted that several roads in communities like Maverly, Pembroke Hall, Meadowbrook, Patrick City, Queensborough, Three Oaks, Hughenden and other areas are in need of repairs. However, they will receive attention during his next term as MP.

"We have just not had the support in getting the roads repaired. A lot of these roads have not been repaired for over two decades, 18-and-a-half years under the PNP and four years of this administration," he said.

"However, we have been successful in some ways, in that we have done a fair amount of roads in Havendale, a couple in Pembroke Hall, we have achieved one very good one in Patrick Gardens, we have a bridge now under construction..." said Smith as he identified other roads in the constituency which have been repaired or which are slated to undergo repairs.

Smith also spoke of his plan to continue job placement initiatives which have resulted in persons receiving employment either locally or overseas.

"We have a scheme now for youth employment where we get sponsored training programmes done for unemployed youngsters to get certification and we endeavour to place them both locally or overseas through our employment clearing house located at our constituency office," said Smith, who explained that the programme began last year.

He also said that the completion of the auditorium at Pembroke Hall Primary School and the rehabilitation of the Pembroke Hall Park are projects which will be targeted if he is re-elected.

Regarding the PNP's candidate, Smith said he respects all opponents but is quite sure that Valentine will be beaten. "I respect Mr Valentine, but when all is said and done, and in the final analysis he will be my seventh victim, as simple as that," said Smith who explained that he first became a member of parliament in 1983 when he represented Central Kingston in an election which the Michael Manley-led PNP did not contest.

Smith said he has been actively engaged in campaign activities, including spot meetings and walks. "I have a template that has proven itself to be useful and successful over the decade, so I will continue to use that template," he declared.