DUNCANS, Trelawny – Dissatisfied with the level of political representation in the Duncans division, the People’s National Party (PNP’s) Derrick Gallimore has vowed to take control of the seat, which was declared vacant last week following the death of councillor for the area, Errol ‘Juppie’ White.

“I am confident (of winning), and I know that I am the better person right now to address some of the basic needs of the division,” Gallimore told the Observer West on Tuesday.

He cited inadequate street lighting; the lack of potable water in some communities; poor road conditions and the pile-up of garbage in some districts, as some of the numerous issues that need to be addressed.

White who was also the deputy mayor of Falmouth had represented the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) for almost two decades.

His son, Donovan, has been tipped to replace him in the local government by-election, expected to be held early next year.

Gallimore, who lost the division to White by 29 votes in the 2007 local government polls, told the Observer West that his party was now fine-tuning plans to launch its campaign under the guiding hands of businessman and political activist Webster Bodden. He said the group which had its first meeting in Duncans on Sunday plans to launched a full-scale campaign immediately after the funeral service for the late JLP councillor.

“We are doing some work now but out of respect for the late councillor and his family we have toned down until after the funeral,” he explained.

A former school teacher, Gallimore, 62, worked as a superintendent of public health and was employed to the Airports Authority of Jamaica for 20 years, before taking early retirement.

A Justice of the Peace since 1994, he now operates an auto parts store in Duncans- the principal town in the division.

A victory for Gallimore in the upcoming by-election would see the opposition PNP occupying three of the nine parish council divisions in Trelawny.

The JLP which has political control of the council won seven divisions-all four in the constituency of South Trelawny and three of five in Northern Trelawny- in the 2007 local government polls.