DARLISTON, Westmoreland – The People’s National Party (PNP) candidate to replace Prime Minister P J Patterson in Eastern Westmoreland is to be decided in another three weeks.

Constituency vice-chairman Senator Noel Monteith said the contenders for the seat, councillor Luther Buchanan and attorney Leonard Green, had already faced a regional selection panel, which had recommended them to the national panel.

“The two candidates have been interviewed and approved by a regional panel, chaired by Fred Hamaty, and they have been recommended to the national body who will interview them next week,” the senator told the Observer on Thursday.

He added that if the national body approved the candidates, constituency delegates would vote some time in January, to determine who should replace Patterson.

Buchanan, 37, is the brother of the late Norman Buchanan, who was selected in August to fill the position. Norman, however, died from pneumonia on September 18, at the Cornwall Regional Hospital. Buchanan is also the nephew of Montieth, and Donald Buchanan, who is the current Minister of Water and Housing.

Green, meanwhile, contested the North East St Andrew seat on the PNP’s ticket in the 2002 general elections, but lost to the Jamaica Labour Party’s Delroy Chuck. Chuck, also an attorney by profession, is the Opposition Spokesman on Justice.