THE executive of the ruling People’s National Party (PNP) has approved the membership of former Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate for West Portland Kenneth Rowe and former United Progressive Party (UPP) candidate for North East St Ann Camara Nkrumah.

The PNP, in a statement yesterday, said Monday night’s executive meeting of the PNP voted to grant both men membership, subject to their three-month probation period.

Under the party’s constitution, any person who has contested an election against a PNP candidate and then seeks to join the PNP, must get the approval of the party’s executive.

The PNP recently granted membership status to former senator Norman Horne, who contested the Central Manchester seat for the JLP in 2002; Hugh Thompson, who ran in South West St Catherine for the National Democratic Movement (NDM); Brascoe Lee who represented the JLP and the NDM in South Trelawny, and Verna Parchment, who successfully represented the JLP in North West St Ann. She has since crossed the floor.

Former PNP general secretary and Cabinet minister Dr D K Duncan’s membership was re-activated by the PNP executive.