MANCHESTER, Jamaica — Manchester Chamber of Commerce member Wendy Freckleton who recently gave up the position as president to venture into representational politics was Sunday evening endorsed by members of the People’s National Party (PNP).

At a meeting at the May Day High School in Central Manchester, fellow comrades indicated that they were ready to help Freckleton in her quest to win the Knockpatrick Division, which is said to be traditionally PNP territory.

Jamaica Labour Party’s Cleon Francis, in the last parish council election, defeated PNP Councillor Goyfield Harrison who served in the Division from 2007 to 2011.

“I promise to build on the foundation that he (Harrison) laid. Leadership is not just about what I can do; leadership is about what everybody can do with me. When you are organised nobody can stop you. We want groups that function … ,” Freckleton said.

She said that her aim is to strengthen and develop the communities in the Division.

Freckleton who is the managing director for Mandeville Publishers, which is responsible for the printing of the community newspaper Mandeville Weekly, said that her aim is to have a Division where young people are productive.

“We are going to ensure that young people are given the opportunities. Already I have engaged HEART (Training Agency) to come into the Division and see how they can sign up young persons for several programmes and how they can be a part of what I will be doing. We are going to establish an economic centre…. where young tradesmen can come in and access machinery and get their work done,” she said.

Meanwhile Central Manchester Member of Parliament and PNP general secretary Peter Bunting told the gathering that they have elected a “high calibre” leader with principle.

“I don’t think it would be unfair to any previous leader to say that she was without doubt one of the most dynamic, if not the most dynamic leader, president of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce. She worked very hard to lift the profile of the Chamber but apart from that the tangible projects that she led the Chamber in executing in various communities in Mandeville and across Manchester was very commendable.”

“She and her husband (Anthony Freckleton) have a long and proud history of service … All over Jamaica you can hear stories of their contribution in various communities,” said Bunting.

PNP Region 5 Chairman Wensworth Skeffery and Mayor of Mandeville and Councillor for the Bellefield Division Brenda Ramsay were among those emphasising the need for early preparation and organisation in order to regain the Knockpatrick Divison.

Local Government election is constitutionally due in 2015.