BORN in the rural community of Kensington, St James, 54 year-old Derrick Kellier has been the Member of Parliament for South St James, the largest constituency in the parish, since 1989.

His early years at the Roehampton Primary School and his formative years at Calabar High School provided the educational base needed for the businessman and farmer.

Kellier is married and has four daughters.

Over the years, he has served the country’s youth movement in many capacities. These include president of the St James Senior Members Council Youth Clubs Association, chairman of the Youth Action Movement, president of the National Union of Young Farmers and national chairman of the PNP Youth Organisation.

During his first term as Member of Parliament, Kellier established the South St James Social and Economic Development Trust with a view to enhancing the socio-economic well-being of his constituency. It was the Trust that established the Blue Hole Nature Park, an ecological, recreational, wildlife sanctuary in Montpelier.

The Blue Hole Nature Park has since employed hundreds of youths from the constituency in a number of areas including landscaping, horticulture and sports and is the only such facility this side of the island. The Trust also funds annual scholarships for needy students attending secondary and tertiary institutions. It has also been the vehicle for the creation of economic ventures such as the Maroon Pride Banana Chips factory and block-making projects across the constituency.

Kellier also influenced the establishment of the Cambridge Entertainment Company, incorporating the Cambridge boys and girls marching band and the Positive Vibes reggae band. The formation of this thrust was aimed at finding ways of empowering the youth population in South St James.

In association with the Welcome Hall Citizens Association, Kellier began the development of Tulloch Castle, the site of the trash house which was lit to signal the start of the great slave rebellion of 1831. He also used SESP to develop an amphitheatre at the Tulloch Castle, which is now the venue for the Emancipation Vigil and commemorative ceremonies to the great slave rebellion led by Sam Sharpe.

Kellier’s other accomplishments to date include the spearheading of the construction of the Eden Basic School, the Anchovy Primary School, the Cambridge and Flamstead Gardens Post Offices, the Mocho Basic School and Community Centre, and the Catadupa Water Supply system. He was also responsible for the expansion of Anchovy High School and the Bickersteth Primary School.

According to Kellier, his greatest disappointment has been his inability, despite vigorous representation, to do more in the area of road repairs and reconstruction for his constituents.

Meanwhile, his plans for the constituency include the redevelopment of the Cambridge/Seven Rivers area, and he has commissioned a redevelopment plan for the entire area. He also plans to make a new town of Cambridge, replete with comprehensive housing, commercial development and social infrastructure. The Cambridge Housing Project in Bottom Cambridge, which is aimed at providing housing solutions for middle income families, will be a part of the larger plan for the area. His other plans include attracting IT and garment factories to South St James.