THIS September will mark the third anniversary since the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) took the reins of power from the People’s National Party.

And so far it has been a bumpy ride for the Bruce Golding-led administration, due mainly to the global financial meltdown.

Bearing in mind that general elections are constitutionally due in 2012, the Government will, over the next two or so years, try to appease the growing discontent of the masses who have been severely impacted by the recent heavy tax package.

But as we face myriad challenges this year, both the ruling JLP and the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) are expected to intensify their respective candidate selection process for the next general elections.

Here in the western region changes are imminent, as several candidates who contested the 2007 national polls will not vie for parliamentary seats, while there has been talk of at least one candidate — Dennis Meadows — opting to run in a neighbouring parish.

In recent weeks there has been much talk in political circles that Meadows, the current caretaker for North Trelawny who was defeated by the PNP’s Dr Patrick Harris by 1,522 ballots in a 69 per cent voter turnout during the 2007 general elections, is eyeing the West Central St James seat currently held by former mining and energy minister Clive Mullings (JLP).

Meadows, a government senator — the only one in the western region — and a JLP deputy general secretary — believes that he would have a far better chance to enter Gordon House if he seeks representation in the West Central constituency where it is believed that Mullings, who was demoted by Prime Minister Golding, last year, will not seek re-election.

It is no secret that Meadows, a hard campaigner with a passion for serving, is familiar with several key figures and grassroots supporters in West Central.

After all, Mullings’ victory at the polls there in the 2002 general elections was due mainly to the organisational skills and hard work of Meadows and Noel Donaldson, former mayor of Montego Bay and the JLP’s 2007 candidate for South St James.

While Meadows has not publicly declared his intentions in regard to the West Central seat, the senator has been spotted in the Westgreen and Catherine Hall communities which are considered to be JLP strongholds.

Several party insiders in the constituency of North Trelawny have told this column that they would not be surprised if Meadows moves to West Central.

According to them, in recent months the North Trelawny caretaker has been questioning the sincerity and loyalty of some key party functionaries in the constituency, including a few divisional representatives.

Many believe that the outspoken senator has not been seeing eye to eye on several issues concerning party matters and the development of the parish in general.

As the discussions continue about Meadows’ next move, it is widely believed that during the course of this year the region should know whether or not he is leaving North Trelawny for West Central St James.