DARLISTON, Westmoreland – Persons interested in replacing Prime Minister PJ Patterson as Member of Parliament for Eastern Westmoreland have until the end of the month to submit their applications, according to constituency vice- chairman senator Noel Monteith.

“We have set a October 31 deadline for persons who are interested in contesting the seat,” Monteith told the Observer, adding that they had received a single application to date. “So far Luther Buchanan is the only one that has sent in a written application.”

Luther, the PNP’s councillor for the Leamington Division, is the brother of the late Norman Buchanan who should was selected in August to replace Patterson. Norman, 42, died from pneumonia in the Cornwall Regional Hospital on September 18.

“I have come forward because of my years of experience in politics and because the people in the constituency believe that I am mature enough politically and otherwise to widen the quality of representation that I have been giving to the Leamington division since 2003,” said Luther, 37, who is also the nephew of Water and Housing Minister Donald Buchanan.

Applications to fill Patterson’s seat will go to the party’s general secretary, Burchell Whiteman, and copied to the constituency’s general secretary Ralph Anglin.

“After that the party process would then take over, which means that they (the applicants) will face a panel for interviews,” said Montieth, adding that the voters list would thereafter be readied and a date set for the selection of a candidate.

-cummingsm@jamaicaobserver