Junction, St Elizabeth – The ruling People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for South-East St Elizabeth Norman Horne says he plans a “world class stadium” in Ballards Valley as one of his development projects should he be successful in upcoming parliamentary elections.

Horne, who shared the platform with prime minister and party leader Portia Simpson Miller told a large crowd at a political rally in Junction late Thursday that seven acres of land had already been bought in Ballards Valley for the stadium project.

“We have purchased seven acres of land in Ballards Valley where we intend to build a world class stadium .young men and women of this constituency will be able to experience their true potential and go to work on capitalising on sports,” Horne, who controversially replaced sitting MP Len Blake as the candidate for the constituency late last year told cheering supporters.

“Sports is not only for recreation and entertainment, sports today is big business, and Ballards Valley will host one of our world class stadiums for cricket, football, basketball and other sports including netball,” Horne, who controls ARC Systems, a leading importer and manufacturer of building materials, added.

He identified a senior citizens’ centre, a project aimed at attracting returning residents and the development of Malvern – the home of Bethlehem Teachers’ College as well as leading high schools Munro and Hampton – into a recognised educational district, as projects close to his heart.

Malvern, he suggested, was ideal as a location for returning residents, since it boasts “the sixth best climate in the world”.

Horne, who declared that he will be utilising “a coaster bus” as his “constituency office” in order to better serve the community, will be up against Frank Witter of the Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) in elections that are constitutionally due this year.

His selection by the PNP to replace Blake last year caused bitter divisions within the PNP in SE St Elizabeth, but Horne suggested Thursday that the wounds were being rapidly healed.

He and others on the platform hailed what they described as a highly successful “Constituency Workers Meeting” recently which drew 500 people from all over the constituency.

In extolling the virtues of Horne, who only returned to the PNP in the middle of last year after leaving several years ago to join the JLP, Simpson Miller also paid tribute to the absent Blake for his service to his constituency and the party. She also called on those at the meeting to “build unity” and to do nothing that would cause disunity.