June 7 will mark one year since the People’s National Party’s (PNP’s) Luther Buchanan replaced former Prime Minister PJ Patterson as member of parliament (MP) for Eastern Westmoreland.

Before his election to MP, concerns were raised about his suitability and capability to give quality representation to the constituency, which was represented by Patterson for close to a decade.

It was said at that time that Buchanan, then 37, would not be able to ‘walk in Patterson’s shoes’. On the face of it, that argument could be considered fairly reasonable. After all, Patterson was perhaps the most powerful individual in the country, and was in a position to use his vast power, authority and government resources to the advantage of Eastern Westmoreland. The same cannot be said of Buchanan.

As a ‘backbencher’, he has to make constant representation and wait to get the necessary government resources, if he wants to undertake projects in the constituency. He has, too, the option of lobbying the various NGOs and businessmen in the constituency for support.

But in a deep rural constituency, where the business sector lacks vibrancy, Buchanan’s job has become even more challenging. However, over the last 10 months or so, Buchanan – also the PNP’s councillor for the Leamington Division – has been making tremendous strides in the Eastern Westmoreland.

His leadership qualities and aggressive style of representation have started to bear fruit. In a short time, the MP – who was asked to represent the PNP in the constituency after the death of his brother, Norman Buchanan – has done fairly well particularly in the areas of education, road improvement and the provision of water.

“Buchanan has done very, very, well,” constituency chairman Noel Monteith told the Observer West. “He is always amongst the people, and has developed a personal type of relationship with them. In fact, he has gone way beyond the expectations of many.”

Buchanan’s achievements to date include:

. the paving of more than 12 miles of roadway across the communities of Argyle Mountain, Lodge/Big Woods and Kilmarnock;

. improvements to some farm roads;

. the repair and construction of several water catchment tanks;

. the expansion of several basic and primary schools, including Enfield Primary, Content All-Age and Ashton Basic schools; and

. the provision of more than 300 households with electricity, under the Rural Electrification Programme (REP).

Several community centres and playing fields have also been upgraded under his watch.

But despite his performance, the MP must take steps to address the high level of unemployment in the constituency. More emphasis needs to be placed on providing the necessary assistance to the hundreds of farmers in the constituency. The high cost of fertilisers, lack of effective marketing of their produce and high transportation costs are just some of the factors affecting them.

The MP should also explore the possibility of establishing agro-processing plants, while recognising that agriculture is the backbone of the constituency.

If these areas are addressed, Buchanan – while he, arguably, would still not be able to ‘walk in Patterson’s shoes’ – would have certainly made a worthwhile contribution to improving the standards of living of his constituents.

With his uncles, Monteith, Information and Development Minister Donald Buchanan, and the constituency executive firmly behind him, I believe Buchanan will develop into one of the country’s finest MPs.