KINGSTON, Jamaica – The court action to block the delegates’ selection in the North East St Elizabeth constituency was this morning withdrawn in the Supreme Court.

The case was withdrawn because People’s National Party (PNP) Member of Parliament Raymond Pryce decided not to contest the seat in the next general elections.

St Elizabeth NE was thrown into political turmoil after repeated delays in the holding of a delegates’ selection following a challenge to sitting MP Raymond Pryce by businessman Evon Redman for leadership of the constituency.

Last week, Pryce supporters led by former Mayor of Black River Daphne Holmes successfully applied for a court injunction to block the delegates’ selection.

They complained that Redman, who is a former constituency chairman with links to the constituency organisation going back over 40 years, was currently ineligible since he was not a paid-up member of the PNP.

Holmes and others also alleged that the voters’ list was riddled with errors and irregularities, including the names of people long dead.

However, according to a statement from the PNP late Monday, Pryce withdrew his bid from the selection process due to “recent developments within the political organisation of the constituency of North Eastern St Elizabeth and the serious implications that have arisen”.

News later emerged that Redman had been approved by the PNP executive following rumours and speculation of a compromise candidate being introduced in a bid to seek unity and end the bitterness in St Elizabeth NE.

Mayor of Black River and chairman of the St Elizabeth Parish Council Everton Fisher and former chairman of the PNP’s Region Five (St Elizabeth and Manchester), Wensworth Skeffery were names mentioned.