PNP courting Daren Powell

Cricketer being considered as candidate for local gov't poll

BY GARFIELD MYERS Editor-at-Large, South/ Central Bureau

Wednesday, February 08, 2012

MANDEVILLE, Manchester — Former West Indies fast bowler and recently elected president of the St Elizabeth Cricket Association Daren Powell is being considered by the ruling People's National Party (PNP) as a candidate in local government elections due by the end of March.

Chairman of the PNP's Region Five Senator Wensworth Skeffery told the Observer Monday that Powell was on a short list of three candidates under consideration to represent the party in the Malvern Division, South East St Elizabeth.

The others being considered are the incumbent caretaker Barbara Gayle and salesman/farmer Kingsley Palmer, Skeffery said.

Malvern is the only one of 30 divisions in Region Five (Manchester and St Elizabeth) for which a PNP candidate is yet to be decided and Skefferey said a final decision will be made by today following further "soundings" and meetings in the division.

He explained that the delay had resulted from the PNP's resolve to select the best possible candidate.

"Malvern is a division the PNP must win in order to make sure we take the St Elizabeth Parish Council," he said.

"We will not be emotional, we will be totally objective in making sure we select the best person to not only win the division but provide quality representation," Skeffery added.

The JLP currently controls the St Elizabeth Parish Council eight-seven an exact reverse of Manchester where the PNP controls.

Myersville, the strongest division for the PNP in SE St Elizabeth, will have Layton Smith as the PNP candidate replacing former councillor Richard Parchment. The latter was elevated to Member of Parliament for SE St Elizabeth after defeating Frank Witter of the JLP in the December 29 general election. The other PNP representatives in SE St Elizabeth are caretakers Lilieth Clacken (Southfield Division) and Jasett Schaffer ( Junction Division).

In North East St Elizabeth incumbent councillors, Everton Fisher (Balaclava), Audie Myers (Siloah), Donovan Pagon (Braes River) will all be contesting the elections while Maureen Thompson will contest the Santa Cruz division currently held by the JLP's Stallyn Brown. Skeffery said problems involving party unity in Balaclava had been resolved. "The comrades in Balaclava are now like peas in a pod - fully behind Comrade Fisher," claimed Skeffery.

Errol Hummingbird, incumbent councillor for Ipswich will seek to retain the only division currently held by the PNP in North West St Elizabeth. Other PNP candidates in NW St Elizabeth are journalist and marketer Andre Gordon (Lacovia Division) and businessman Cyril Martin (New Market).

Incumbent councillors Mordant Mitchell (Black River Division) and Sandra Whyte (Brompton Division) are both returning for the PNP in SW St Elizabeth. Rankin Watson (Pedro Plains Division) and Frederick Gayle (Mountainside) will be seeking to unseat JLP incumbents, council chairman and mayor of Black River Jeremy Palmer and Derrick Sangster respectively.

Mayor of Mandeville Brenda Ramsay will lead the charge for the PNP in Manchester, seeking to succesfully retain the Bellefield Division in Manchester Central. Donovan Mitchell (Royal Flat Division) and Goyfield Harrison (Knockpatrick) will all be seeking to retain their council seats while Jones Olliphant will be bidding for the Mandeville Division recently vacated by new custos of Manchester, Sally Porteous, formerly of the JLP.

In North East Manchester where all three council seats are held by the JLP, the PNP will be trying to turn the tables through Fidel Palmer (Craighead Division), Burton Wright (Walderston) and Stacey Ann McConnell (Christiana).

In North West Manchester, former councillor and businessman Fairbourne Maxwell will contest the Mile Gully Division, currently held by businessman Timothy Scarlett of the JLP who lost to member of parliament Mikael Phillips in the December 29 poll.

Incumbent PNP councillors in NW Manchester Faith Sampson (John's Hall Division), McArthur Collins (New Green) and Erwin Facey (Spur Tree) are all down to contest.

In South Manchester, incumbent PNP councillors Anthony Bryce ( Newport Division) and Dalton Brown (Alligator Pond) will bid to retain their seats while Derrick Sanderson (Grove Town) and Muriel Sanderson- Ferguson (Porus) will bid for divisions currently held by the JLP.

-- Garfield Myers

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PNP courting Daren Powell