JLP selects Parkinson in Ulster Spring division for local gov't poll; completes Eastern Hanover slate

Mark Cummings and Hoarse Hinds

Thursday, February 23, 2012

ULSTER SPRING, Trelawny - The Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) has selected 39 year -old Nadine Parkinson to contest the Ulster Spring Division of the Trelawny Parish Council in the upcoming local government election.

Parkinson replaces Fitz Albert Christie, a former deputy mayor of Falmouth, who died last month after a brief illness.

In the party's candidate selection process for Christie's successor, which was held at the Ulster Spring Primary School on the weekend, Parkinson polled 42 votes to beat Rohan Smith who got 13; Wintworth Frater eight, and Vincent Edwards three.

A former Miss Trelawny Festival Queen and Miss Trelawny Farm Queen, Parkinson who was a participant in the Jamaica/ Canada Youth Exchange programme in 1994, told the Observer West that if elected, she plans to implement a raft of community based- programmes which will be of significant benefit to the division.

" I have a passion for community service and I have served in many different areas, so when I was asked to replace Mr Christie I figured that it was a wonderful opportunity to help in the advancement of the community," she said.

A member of the JLP since 2006, Parkinson who is a trained teacher, is also a member of the Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency and a former president of the Kiwanis Club of Upper Trelawny.

Since Parkinson became a member of the JLP, she has played an integral part in the campaign activities of South Trelawny Member of Parliament Marissa Dalrymple Phillibert, particularly in the Ulster Spring division.

Yesterday she told the Observer West that if elected she also plans to make representation to the local authority on behalf of the constituents, for proper roads, streets lights, signage and water.

Meanwhile, the JLP has completed the selection of its slate of candidates for the three parish council divisions Chester Castle, Hopewell and Sandy Bay- in the constituency of Eastern Hanover.

According to Paula Kerr -Jarrett, JLP caretaker for Eastern Hanover, Devon Brown will be the party's candidate in the Hopewell division, Maxi Archer will represent the Chester Castle division, while the party's standard bearer for the Sandy Bay division will be Stacia Brown.

Kerr -Jarrett disclosed that former councillor/caretakers Lindel Mair and Albert Chang of the Chester Castle and Sandy Bay divisions respectively, had indicated that they would not be seeking reelection in the up coming poll.

Three sitting People's National Party councillors in Eastern Hanover are: Wynter McIntosh in Chester Castle, Derrick Foster in Hopewell and Lloyd Hill, Sandy Bay.