THE Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) will not pressure its embattled spokesman on agriculture Roger Clarke to resign or retire, following a decision by the director of public prosecutions to charge him with death by dangerous driving, arising from a road mishap in August.

But Clarke has apparently jumped the gun with his decision already, as he has told some key members of his Central Westmoreland constituency that he will not face electors at the next general election, due by 2012.

Clarke, 70, who represents the constituency in Parliament, was charged last Wednesday following the death of motorcyclist Daron Nicholson, whose bike was involved in a collision with the politician’s Toyota Prado sports utility vehicle in the vicinity of Nightingale Grove in St Catherine. Nicholson was pronounced dead at hospital.

“I wouldn’t want to comment too much on the situation, but a lot would depend on him,” was all PNP chairman Robert Pickersgill was prepared to say, adding that he had not heard that Clarke would not be seeking re-election.

Several attempts to get Clarke failed, but PNP insiders said the veteran MP told some of those close to him that he would not run again, all because the accident had left him demoralised and dejected.

Even at his age Clarke, who also served as MP for North East St Elizabeth, had been entertaining thoughts of seeking a second term in a constituency that has always been won by the PNP in contested general elections.

“The boss tell us that him giving it up,” one constituent told the Observer in a conversation Friday.

“Him really under pressure and him feel bad about the incident and him sound down when him talking to me, so him say him not running back. That is something him tell some of us,” the constituent said.

Checks by the Observer revealed that Clarke had spoken to other close allies in the constituency and had expressed similar sentiments to them.

Pickersgill told the Observer that the party would give Clarke as much support as it could, leading up to his trial, but shied away from commenting on what decision the party would take in approving him as candidate for another term.

Party officials with whom the Observer spoke said that unlike the Kern Spencer case in which the sitting MP for North East St Elizabeth was facing charges in relation to the Cuban lightbulb scandal, Clarke’s case was different, and whether or not he is convicted, he would not be treated by the party in the same way that Spencer would be.

“Roger did not commit a premeditated crime. He was involved in an accident. Nobody goes out there to get involved in an accident,” one PNP official said.

Another said that Clarke had contemplated resigning as MP before the end of his five-year term, following the accident, but decided against it as the PNP would not want to contest a byelection before the general election is due.

Instead, Clarke has proposed that he demits office as chairman of the constituency and allow the succession process to kick in with the election of a new chairman, who would automatically represent the party at the next polls.

It is not unusual for politicians to serve in the House of Representatives beyond age 70.

Ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) veterans Pearnel Charles, the minister of labour and social security; and Mike Henry, minister of transport and works, are well into their 70s and giving no indication that they intend to quit elective politics anytime soon.

PNP veteran Dr DK Duncan and JLP general secretary Karl Samuda are 69 and 68 respectively and have also not shown signs of going into retirement.

Clarke, who entered a not guilty plea when his case came up for mention in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate’s Court last Friday, is being represented by another PNP stalwart KD Knight. He was released on $250,000 bond.

If found guilty, the cane farmer could face up to five years in prison.