Devon McDaniel, the young Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) MP now seeking to represent South Central St Catherine, says his frustrations with the system was not the only reason why he gave up on South Trelawny.

He told the Sunday Observer that the main reason he decided not to contest the South Trelawny seat was because he had relocated to Kingston and he felt he wouldn’t have the time to give his South Trelawny constituents proper representation.

“There are people in South Trelawny who are disappointed that I left. They feel I disrespected them, but they have a very good candidate there now,” McDaniel said.

“Of course, they would love for me to stay, but I can’t. Seeing that I am now in Kingston, it would be a case that they want me to stay but, at the end of the day, they would be saying that I am not spending enough time with them,” McDaniel explained.

But, McDaniel, a motor vehicle sales executive and probably the youngest member of the current House of Representatives – he turns 35 in July – admitted that his frustration with the political system also contributed to his decision.

“I was dissatisfied with the system where, if you are a MP for instance, and your party is not the government of the day, then basically you are a lame duck,” he said.

“Nothing is forthcoming. They find ways of getting around you by using the various government agencies. And when you get things done by the agencies, those who are a part of the government get all the credit, as if it was implemented by them, and that is not fair,” he remarked.

He said that he felt disillusioned by the process, especially by the fact that back-benchers in Parliament – mainly those in the Opposition – have their ‘hands tied behind their backs’, when it comes to achieving their vision for their constituencies.

“When they give you $2 million for SESP (Social and Economic Support Programme), basically they are wasting your time and the people’s time,” McDaniel complained.

“What we need to take into consideration is that, if there is a killing in a constituency, the first person that is called upon is the MP; if there is a Nine Night, the person who is called upon is the MP; if a school fee is to be paid, the first person to be called is the MP; if it is a young lady who has nothing to do and needs a self-start, the first person they are going to call is the MP; if a house is leaking… and the list goes on.”

So what made him change his mind and decide to contest South Central St Catherine, a seat which has been held by the People’s National Party (PNP) since 1993?

“Based on the utterances of Mr Golding, and the consistency in his utterances, I am convinced that the way forward for Jamaica is a Bruce Golding-led government,” said the visibly re-energised MP.

He said he looks forward to the JLP’s proposed 2.5 per cent of the budget for MPs which, he thinks, will be transparent and will allow some level of autonomy for MPs.

“This money will not be spent arbitrarily. We will have to meet with the PDCs, the citizens’ associations. They will have to get their priorities straight so that we can implement their programmes,” he said.

“I don’t believe MPs should be given money. I believe they should continue to make recommendations for the allocation of funds. We might need a budget in excess of $100 million to meet the needs of each constituency, but we must ensure that the political directorate does not have anything to do, directly, with the spending of the money. That’s how SESP operates, although some people believe the MPs get the cash.

“People really shouldn’t be depending on MPs for everything, but, based on where the country is at, the lack of opportunities, high level of unemployment, the people are basically hopeless. So, in some cases, the MP has become the only hope and that is why you see polls showing that people are willing to sell their votes to the highest bidder.

“The people are desperate and that’s why the PNP has been so successful at the polls. They bring the people to an all-time low and then they come and wave some money in front of their faces, and the only thing that can change that kind of thinking is jobs, jobs, jobs,” he said.

“Jamaican people are a very proud people. So when you see them begging, is not that they want to. If they are empowered they will do their best,” he added.

McDaniel also claimed that in Parliament, while Opposition MPs are kept ignorant of public programmes, Government MPs are well informed about the various programmes.

“Many times it is a friend, or someone on the other side, who has to indicate to you that a programme is coming and you should prepare a project. In turn, you would indicate to someone on your side. That’s how the word gets out. We are not in government to do that. That’s not fair.”

Now that he has made up his mind to stick with politics and has been chosen as the JLP’s candidate for South Central St Catherine, what makes him think that he can win a seat that has been held by the People’s National Party (PNP) since 1993?

He believes that his greatest asset is being Devon McDaniel.

“What I bring to the table is youth, a certain level of organisation I believe in meeting the people. I am able to understand some of the problems the people are facing and seek to address them. And the people are looking for someone who understands them and is in a position to either point them, or to do something about what is affecting them in their daily lives.”

McDaniel says he does not consider South Central a garrison because while there are inner-city areas with strong support for both sides, there are upscale and middle class areas, including Greendale, Surrey Meadows, Hamilton Gardens, Meadowvale, where people have been feeling the effects of the cost of living, crime and deteriorating family standards, he said.

“I am not into the violent aspects of politics. I believe that no lives should be lost because you support or do not support a political party, and I am doing whatever I possibly can to ensure that we have a peaceful election in the constituency,” McDaniel continued.

He believes that just as he created history in South Trelawny by winning all four parochial divisions, plus the fact that he had the first 1,500-plus majority since Brascoe Lee in 1980, he is capable of taking the seat from incumbent MP, Sharon Hay-Webster.

“It has to do with the level of organisation and the appeal of the candidate. In the past, people just went out and campaign, but, you need first to know where your strengths are and to build on them. What will make the difference this time?

“The people in South Central St Catherine are, basically, turned off from this government as well as the current MP. The constituents can’t wait to show her the way out,” he boasted.

He said that there has been no internal fallout since replacing JLP candidate Trevon Garvey.

“The people see me as a winner in their eyes. They are happy to have me and they want a victory,” he concluded.