WESTERN BUREAU — The People’s National Party (PNP) will name its candidate for Western Hanover within the next three weeks to replace the incumbent Member of Parliament, Ben Clare, who is quitting representational politics.

Clare is said to be suffering from ill health and has opted not to seek re-election for the seat he has held since 1989.

“We know the names, we will have to go down there and do some soundings,” the party’s deputy general secretary in charge of organising, Harry Douglas, told the Observer on Monday. “I think within two weeks we should have a clear indication. …I would look at maybe three weeks at the longest.”

Douglas added that there are four persons who have expressed an interest in the seat and have been working in the area. He, however, declined to name the persons, but according to an Observer source, those under serious consideration include a well-known medical doctor who now works outside of the parish, and a teacher.

The source said the names of a radio talk show host, two attorneys and a young woman who is relatively new to the political arena, have also been mentioned as a possible replacement for Clare.

But according to a well-placed party source, the talk show host “wouldn’t touch it with a long stick”, one of the attorneys has indicated that he is not interested, and the young woman may not be ready for such a big step.

On Monday, Douglas conceded that Clare’s pullout has put a wrinkle in their efforts to take home Western Hanover, but he was confident that the party will still be able to retain the seat.

“The incumbent was a known name, someone who has gone through the whole thing and so you have that difficulty to overcome,” he said. “But I’m sure whoever is selected will be a household name. All the people are well established in the area.”

The Jamaica Labour Party’s candidate for the constituency is Patrick Atkinson.