Warren to announce political future next week
LORRIMERS, Trelawny — FORMER Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) Deputy Mayor of Falmouth Steve Warren is to announce his plans for his political future by next week, following his humiliating defeat in the Lorrimers division by independent candidate Paul Patmore in the recent local government elections.
“I have already made up my mind, but I will not make my decision public until I have had discussions with my member of parliament (Marisa Dalrymple Philibert) who is off the island, but should be back this weekend. So sometime next week I will make it known,” Warren told the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday.
He however made it clear that he will remain an ardent member of the Opposition JLP and will continue to serve in “whatever capacity” necessary.
In last week Monday’s polls, Patmore who was expelled for the JLP after he was nominated to contest the Lorrimers division, polled 1,526 votes, while Warren got 908 and the People’s National Party (PNP’s) Kevin Guy received 366.
The 55-year-old Warren has been the councillor for the division located in the JLP’s stronghold of South Trelawny, for almost 14 years.
Local political analysts Christopher Hylton believes that Warren has no other option but to resign as the JLP representative in the division.
“For him (Warren) to even think of contesting another local government election would be political suicide and I don’t think that he is naive enough politically to consider running again,” he argued.
Added Hylton: ” The political future of Warren is not salvageable at this time. For him to resurface and to become a formidable force in a future local government election, is almost impossible. What he should do now is to wish his constituents goodbye and thank them for all the years they have been supporting him.”
Hylton argued that councillor Patmore commands a great deal of respect and support, not only in the Lorrimers division, but in the entire South Trelawny constituency.
A 41-year-old funeral director, Patmore has been active in the division –where he is from — for more than 10 years.
He has been credited with the development of a much-needed water supply system in Lowe River; renovation of the Highgate Hall Basic School; the provision of a number of garbage bins in the division; and for staging a number of sporting and cultural events in the division.
He is a 2006 recipient of the Governor General’s Award for outstanding contribution to community development. A seemingly disappointed Warren told the Observer West on Tuesday that he was outspent by Patmore.