MoBay Chamber has high expectations of new MPs
WESTERN BUREAU — The Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry has high expectations of the three newly elected members of parliament in St James, vital sections of which have been without representation for nearly two years.
The chamber has long complained that not enough of the tourism city’s revenue is funnelled back into the resort city.
But, according to chamber president, Mark Kerr-Jarrett, the new MPs should improve the level of representation in the parish.
“With individuals like Clive Mullings, Horace Chang and deputy leader Ed Bartlett, I think it (representation) will be a lot better,” he told the Observer.
The People’s National Party’s Derrick Kellier is the fourth MP in the parish, as he managed to hold onto his South St James seat.
In Wednesday’s general election, Bartlett, a JLP deputy leader, won the East Central St James constituency, defeating Donald Colomathi (PNP) by more than 1,000 votes.
Violet Neilson, the PNP’s incumbent MP, did not seek re-election. She has been ailing for the past year, and even before that a lot of her time was devoted to fulfilling responsibilities that came with her post as Speaker of the House.
In the constituency of North West St James Dr Horace Chang beat the PNP’s Gordon Brown; and attorney-at-law Clive Mullings of the JLP trounced Hugh Solomon who represented the PNP in the West Central St James constituency.
Francis Tulloch and Arthur Nelson last represented the constituencies of North West and West Central St James respectively. Nelson did not seek re-election and Tulloch resigned the North West seat nearly two years ago.
The constituents of that area, the centre of the city’s commercial activity, have been without representation since then.
Kerr-Jarrett said yesterday that the newly elected representatives will have to perform much better because the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the general public will be demanding their best.
“No longer can St James … be treated in the kind of second-hand fashion, with regard to financial allocation for the day-to-day maintenance of the parish,” Kerr-Jarrett said.
He added that the calibre of the elected representatives augers well for the parish, and that the Chamber has very high expectations of them because they are competent people.
And, in congratulating the PNP on its election victory, Kerr-Jarrett said the party carried out a very effective campaign “that was very well run”. He also commended Prime Minister PJ Patterson on his election night victory speech.
“It was extremely sincere, and the Chamber of Commerce looks forward to very, very close participation in the business of rebuilding this nation and establishing it as the regional leader it should be,” Kerr- Jarrett said.
He added that he believes that the close margin of victory by the PNP is good for democracy, as it will result in a very vibrant Parliament.
“It will also enable a higher level of participation by the opposition in the regards to accountability and transparency,” Kerr-Jarrett said.