BLACK RIVER, St Elizabeth — AFTER another failed attempt to secure a place in the officer corps of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), Government Senator and constituency caretaker for North Trelawny Dennis Meadows says he will now turn his full attention to wrestling the North Trelawny seat from the People’s National Party (PNP).

“Maybe the gods are saying that it’s time for me to go back in the constituency and work hard to put the constituency in the winning column in the next elections,” said a disappointed Meadows.

He was speaking at the JLP’s annual general meeting for Area Council Four held at Black River High School last Sunday, following his defeat by Deputy Speaker of the House Marisa Dalrymple-Philibert in a closely contested race for the chairmanship of the council.

Meadows polled 46 votes to Dalrymple-Philibert’s 50.

In December, Meadows, who served as the party’s deputy general secretary from 2005-2007 and again from 2009-2010, failed in his bid to retain the post.

The JLP caretaker had earlier supported the candidacy of Dr Horace Chang in the deputy leadership race for Area Council Four but Chang the incumbent was defeated by Dr Christopher Tufton.

On Sunday, Meadows, who also failed in his bid to secure the North Trelawny parliamentary seat in the 2007 general elections, reiterated his commitment to the party.

“I want to pledge my commitment to the Area Council and the party, and I am now going to focus on my constituency,” he asserted.

Meadows congratulated Dalrymple-Philibert on her victory before leaving the meeting.

In her acceptance speech, Dalrymple-Philibert urged the large number of delegates in attendance to put their differences behind them and work as a team in the interest of the party and country.

She also lauded outgoing chairman for the Area Council J C Hutchinson and former deputy leader Dr Chang for their contribution to the council.

Hutchinson did not seek re-election, after serving as chairman for 14 consecutive years.