BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth – A code of conduct signing ceremony for political candidates in St Elizabeth did not go according to plan as only ruling People’s National Party (PNP) candidates turned up for yesterday’s function which also included short presentations by the politicians.

PNP candidates Kern Spencer (North East St Elizabeth), Ann Marie Warburton (North West St Elizabeth), Norman Horne (South East St Elizabeth) and Rev Stanley Redwood (South West St Elizabeth) all signed the Agreement and Declaration on Political conduct.

Organisers of the function at the Invercauld Hotel in Black River, said they received apologies from three opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidates: Chris Tufton (SW St Elizabeth) who is ill; JC Hutchinson (NW St Elizabeth), and Coris Samuels (NE St Elizabeth).

Chairman of the event planning group, Rev Godfrey Watson of the Black River Ministers Fraternal, said he received no word from Franklyn Witter (SE St Elizabeth) though the latter, who is Mmayor of Black River and chairman on the St Elizabeth Parish Council, had agreed to be included on the programme to bring greetings.

Of the missing JLP candidates only Tufton was represented, by Damion Baker, the JLP caretaker councillor for the Black River Division.

The function was organised by the Ministers Fraternal as well as the St Elizabeth Homecoming Foundation and the Social Development Commission (SDC).

Watson said the idea was to hear from the candidates a brief overview of their plans for their constituencies as well as to have them reaffirm their commitment to peaceful elections by signing the code of conduct at the local level.