Thomas gets the nod

Former police boss takes charge for PNP in NW St Ann

BY ALESIA EDWARDS Observer staff reporter edwardsa@jamaicaobserver.com

Monday, April 12, 2010

BROWN'S TOWN, St Ann - Former commissioner of police Lucius Thomas was yesterday elected by delegates in North West St Ann as the candidate to represent the People's National Party in the next general election.

The former top cop took 312 or 84 per cent of the 370 votes cast in yesterday's selection exercise over Mayor of St Ann's Bay Ivan Anderson, who only managed to secure 58 votes despite his long political association with the PNP in the constituency.

Anderson, who has been a PNP councillor in the St Ann Parish Council for more than 13 years, was gracious in defeat and extended the olive branch to Thomas, a newcomer to the political arena. Some 441 delegates were registered to vote in yesterday's election at the Brown's Town Community College here.

North West St Ann is now represented in the lower house by the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) Othniel Lawrence who beat the PNP's Michael Whittingham in the last general election by almost 900 votes. Whittingham did not seek re-election.

Thomas said that he was not surprised at the outcome of yesterday's poll as he was very confident that the level of work he had done in the constituency would have given him the edge over his opponent.

"It has been very impressive, but I expected this. Over the last seven months since I entered the constituency and making the various house-to-house calls and seeing people within the marketplace and other areas, the message I've been receiving is that leadership is required," Thomas told the Observer in an interview after.

Thomas believes that his over 40 years of experience in the police force has given him leverage required to take back the seat from the JLP. Thomas acknowledged that the road ahead will be tough, but believes he stands a very good chance of beating Lawrence or any other candidate contesting that seat.

"Any candidate that comes up, I feel that I have it within me, and it's not I, it's the team that we will assemble to be in the constituency, it's not a one-competent and we believe we are able, after we have organised ourselves to take on any candidate from any party."

Thomas, who served as commissioner for two years and nine months, resigned as top cop following the JLP's win at the polls in 2007. He said that his love for people, country and a desire to serve led him into representational politics.

He said that he was appalled at the high level of social problems including poor road conditions, lack of water, as well as unemployment affecting the people of the constituency. He said that he will be working with the constituents to ensure their living standards are improved.

At the same time, he wants PNP supporters in the constituency to put the election behind them, unite and move forward together to build a stronger party.

"All of us here in North West St Ann must form a formidable team to get rid of the Jamaica Labour Party," Thomas told cheering supporters.

"We must unite that we can become one solid army of peaceful people committed to removing this government through a democratic process."

In the meantime, Anderson acknowledging defeat lashed some party supporters who he said were behaving like labourites.

Despite strong heckling from the crowd, Anderson said that he was not pleased with the behaviour and attitude of some of his own.

"The delegates have spoken, but we have some comrades who need to be flushed out ... some of you are behaving like labourites, it's a democratic process, it's a democratic party, I've entered the race and I've lost," Anderson told party supporters.

Anderson's comment was in response to criticism from party supporters for his decision to go up against Thomas who was highly flavoured by many to represent the party.

Director of election and deputy general secretary of the PNP, Julian Robinson, said that the day's proceedings went well and were incident free. He said that the party has 10 other seats, which it is hoping to have candidates in place shortly.

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COMMENTS (10)

Really Pissed
4/19/2010

PNP for 2012
Things have only gotten worse for us Jamaicans under the JLP regime. If you disagree, you're either benefitting or not aware of whats happening in the country, where job security is 0, trust in the Government is 0, the Governments word means nothing, crime has gotten more barefaced than ever, Government and don relationships never more clear, our Head of state, the PM lies through the teeth on National TV, the Government conduct legal extortion by way of tax...I could go on and on, but I won't.
Congrats Mr. Thomas, do what you can do for the people. We don't expect you to work miracles, so ignore the nay-sayers.

Dwight Barnes
4/13/2010

I am pleased with this choice for NW St. Ann.I am sure that the team which will be assembled should restore this seat to the PNP. We need to move with dispatch to put formidable candidates in seats like South Trelawny, East Central St. James, West Central St. James, North West St. James, South West St. Ann and North East St. Ann. As a party, we need to be ready for any eventuality. It is quite apparent this government does not have the aptitude or moral authority to lead .
The loosing candidate has served the party well in his present position. I was deeply disappointed by the disparaging remarks that he made. One is entitled to an opinion but there is a time and place to air these . He has a major role to play in helping us wrest this seat from the clutches of the JLP, he needs to be building bridges.

mike beckles
4/12/2010

As a former Police Officer myself who loathes politics and politicians, I must concede that there is nothing wrong with Former Police Officers becoming Politicians, one does not surrender their constitutional rights because they choose a career in law enforcement as some is predisposed to think in Jamaica, most Jamaicans seem to thing that because only poor people's kids join the Police force and the Army they are not due any respect, or further they are subject to Government ownership, that prevailing residual Colonialist mentality has kept Jamaica mired in poverty and class-ism.
US congress Stupak just retiring from congress, former cop
100 blacks in law enforcement former head and NYPD lieutenant former cop, now city councilman.
Now although there is nothing ethically or legally wrong, with former Police officers entering representational Politics, it poses a different dynamic in Jamaica because ours is not a country of laws , but of men and we expect our Police Officers to be above the fray, incidentally this never happens and so in order to reach the top of the Police Department one has to align one's self to one of the Political Party to be assured upward mobility, people muse that Police Officers should be free from Politics but this is not possible if an officer wants to advance , one's name must be known in order for advancement, .
Lucius Thomas's new career comes as no surprise to anyone but the blind.

robbi ross
4/12/2010

Good one,PNP now you have the "TOP COP"put him in the right place so he can shine, Minister of National Security. Thank you MR.Thomas, and keep up the good work.

Elli Deedo
4/12/2010

Thomas Get's the Nod; very good headline. The questions are there to be answered. Being a former Police boss; doe's that make's him a credible representative?. Is he going to establish a distinguished branch of politics in which his predecessors have never done?. Community developement is of vital importance, training Institutes for the Young people who are only hanging around with no qualifications..nothing to do. Where is he going to obtain the funding in order to create these Facilities?. The Observer had published a report some months ago, on the poor Conditions in which people are living in St Anns. It's easy to select representatives, but just what, and how much can they Contribute towards the development of their respective constituencies?:)

Cee Dubya
4/12/2010

“He said that his love for people, country and a desire to serve led him into representational politics.”
Uh-huh. Right. Am I missing something? Was this former Commissioner of Police not in a position to demonstrate that “love for people, country and a desire to serve”? Perhaps he couldn’t handle that job? Perhaps his hands were…tied? So, resigned shortly after the new admin came to power…
Hindsight is 20/20. True, he has a right to do whatever, whenever, but as far as credibility goes? Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.
“Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.”

george watson
4/12/2010

"Here is a man who cannot or could not deal with crime as commissioner of police." according to Carl Williams.
We did not elect Thomas to curb crime. We elected the JLP so what are you on about? Who do YOU think can curb crime when certain people are given free rein to do what they want in this country, and not even the great United States can get him extradited to their country for trial.
Wake up and smell the coffee Carl..

Anancy Bedward
4/12/2010

@carl williams: "Here is a man who cannot or could not deal with crime as commissioner of police".
.
His political choice explains the above. They did not treat the crime problem with any urgency, so why should he as head crime fighter at the time?

Richie L
4/12/2010

If only we could get a third party that would concentrate only two or three constituents. If the party could build up the organization in these constituents so that it can win the seats.
.
A third party needs not contest the whole country, just two or three of the most vulnerable, disaffected constituents would do.
.
I think if we could have a third party winning two to three seats, even one, then that would be a watershed moment in Jamaica.
.
Somehow, we need to break the stranglehold of the two main parties, who really don't have anything to offer Jamaica.
.
Richie

carl williams
4/12/2010

He has the right to enter representational politics or sell bag juice if he so wishes. My disgust has to do with the cycle of nonsense that seem to rotate.Here is a man who cannot or could not deal with crime as commissioner of police. This is a joke..The level of Jamaican gutter politics will never change when things like this continue to happen..

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