JLP’s Heroy Clarke dismisses challenge from Lloyd B
HEROY Clarke, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) candidate for the St James Central constituency, has said he is undaunted by the imminent challenge from publisher Lloyd B Smith, in his bid to win the newly created seat.
“Mr Smith is not a threat. I have the support of the constituency so I am not the least worried about him,” said the 40-year-old Clarke in an interview with Observer West yesterday.
Last week, Smith, who unsuccessfully contested the St James South constituency on the JLP’s ticket in the 1997 general elections, announced that he had accepted an “invitation” from the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) to contest St James Central.
At the time, he noted that a number of persons had urged him to re-enter representational politics and, more specifically, to contest the redefined seat due to the lack of proper representation in the Montego Bay region.
According to Smith, 64, many persons do not feel that Clarke can effectively represent Montego Bay and “so they feel that it is somebody like me who should take on the job”.
Clarke — the JLP councillor for the Rose Heights Division since 1998 — was unmoved by Smith’s comments, insisting that it would take more than the power of one to successfully run the affairs of the constituency.
“Leadership is not a one person thing. It is a collective responsibility. It speaks not only to one person, but (also) to an entire organisation… So my leadership style will be a collaborative effort,” he posited.
In fact, the younger man predicted that the PNP representative will not be able to garner enough support to realise victory. He also expressed confidence that he would secure the win for the JLP, inflicting in the process, a crushing defeat on Smith.
“Not many persons are going to gravitate towards him because of his age and his style. Most of the voters in the area are between 18 and 40 (years old) and I believe that they want to identify with me. They are not going to want to identify with Lloyd B (Smith),” said Clarke, adding that roughly 70 per cent of the electors are under age 40.
“I have a very good support base and working with a credible team and with the support of the party, I am confident that I will become the first MP for this constituency,” he noted.
The newly created seat encompasses sections of downtown Montego Bay, the inner-city communities of Salt Spring, Canterbury, Rose Heights, and Green Pond as well as sections of Glendevon and Mount Salem.
Clarke, who served as vice-president of the JLP’s youth arm, Young Jamaica, from 1996 to 2000, said he plans to build on his achievements in the Rose Heights Division should he become member of parliament.
“I plan to establish a centre of excellence in St James Central, which will be fed by a number of other satellite centres in the constituency. Here, the youths will be able to receive training in various fields which will make them ready for employment or to start their own business,” he said.
“Under my leadership, St James Central will become a model constituency, as it currently boasts thriving businesses in commerce, agro-processing, tourism, and other industries. I will move to enhance what is already in existence,” Clarke added.