IN the run-up to general elections expected by year-end, the Jamaica Observer’s Western Bureau continues its focus on the candidates in this part of the island.

Who are they and why should you vote or not vote, for them.

This week’s candidate is the People’s National Party’s, Doreen Ionie Chen.

Date of Birth: September 16, 1949

Constituency: South Trelawny

Doreen Chen was born at Askenish in Hanover, and is now the mother of five children.

Educated at the Rusea’s High School in Lucea and the University of California in Los Angeles, she was called to represent the people of Southern Trelawny in 1997, following the death of her husband, Winston, who was the candidate for the constituency at the time of his passing.

She was elected member of Parliament for the area, after she defeated Alfred Chen of the Jamaica Labour Party and Brascoe Lee of the National Democratic Movement, in the 1997 general elections.

She has represented Jamaica overseas at the Assembly of Caribbean Community of Parliamentarians in Grenada and Belize, and at the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas in Mexico City. Chen is a member of several key committees of Parliament.

When Chen was asked “Why should Jamaicans vote for you?” she replied:

“I am almost at the end of my first term and I have achieved a lot, and with this in mind, I would like to complete a number of projects that I have in the pipeline.

“The people of South Trelawny have selected me as their member of Parliament and I have served them well over the period. I am sure that they would like me to continue.

“I have refurbished a number of community centres in the constituency. These include those in Allsides, Warsop, Troy and Albert Town. In addition to refurbishing the community centres, I have also upgraded many playfields in the constituency.

“In the area of education, I was instrumental in the establishment of a computer laboratory at the Lowe River Primary and All-Age School; Albert Town High School and Ulster Spring Primary.

“During my term, I have also built five basic schools and I should be getting a new high school at Warsop soon.”

Chen also said that she had donated a school bus to the South Trelawny Principals’ Association, to provide transportation for students living in the area.

Turning to the health sector, she said she has made an ambulance available to the Ulster Spring Health Centre and has put in place a complete dental clinic there.

“In the area of agriculture, I have assisted hundreds of farmers in goat rearing and yam cultivation, and I have now put in place, an agro-processing plant at Wait-A-Bit.

“During my term, roads also came in for priority attention. Work has done on the Albert Town to Jackson Town mainroad; Troy to Crown Land road and several parish council roads,” the MP said.

According to Chen, the constituency has also seen improvements in the area of telephone service and water supply.

She said that if given a chance to serve the constituency again, she would continue to improve the quality of life of the residents.

“One good term deserves another, and based on my sterling performance in the constituency, I am confident that I will be returned as member of Parliament,” she said.