SANTA CRUZ, St Elizabeth — People’s National Party delegates in North West St Elizabeth will today choose between former West Indies fast bowler Daren Powell and head of the National Parent/Teachers Association Everton Hannam as their standard bearer.

The winner of today’s contest will be expected to challenge Opposition Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) MP JC Hutchinson come the next general (parliamentary) election. That poll is constitutionally due in two years but can be called by the prime minister at any time before that.

Hutchinson has held the NW St Elizabeth seat for the JLP since 1997.

Chairman of the PNP’s NW St Elizabeth constituency organisation, Hopeton McCatty told the Jamaica Observer that today’s delegate vote will take place at the Maggotty High School between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

Senator Wensworth Skeffery, head of the PNP’s Region Five (St Elizabeth and Manchester) will serve as director of elections. Just over 270 delegates from 25 recognised groups are eligible to vote.

According to McCatty, Duncan ‘Junior’ Buchanan, son of the late Cabinet Minister Donald Buchanan and older brother of the MP for SW St Elizabeth Hugh Buchanan, withdrew from today’s contest for personal reasons.

Powell, the current councillor for the Malvern Division in South East St Elizabeth Hannam who is attached to UNESCO and Buchanan, have been wooing PNP delegates in NW St Elizabeth since early this year.

McCatty said that another poll to elect a new chairman and executive of the constituency will be held later this month. McCatty was installed by the PNP at the helm of an interim executive committee in mid-2013 following a breakdown in the leadership of the constituency organisation.

— Garfield Myers