The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) yesterday announced the confirmation of six new candidates/caretakers for the next general election, following a meeting of its central executive council.

Those confirmed were: Area Council 2 — pharmacist and businessman Dr Norman Dunn, ratified for South East St Mary, and retired Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Newton Amos, for North West St Catherine; Area Council 3 — businessman Alfred Allen, in South East St Ann; and in Area Council 4, three candidates were ratified — financial consultant Patrick Thelwell in Western Hanover, social worker Donovan Reynolds in Western Westmoreland and businessman Peter Sangster in North East St Elizabeth.

JLP general secretary, Dr Horace Chang, indicated that some 20 candidates had been ratified to contest the local government elections, due by the end of June. The majority of the local government candidates were from Area Council 2, which comprises the parishes of St Catherine, St Mary, Portland and St Thomas.

They were: St Catherine — Lennox Hines,Southboro, Lloyd Powell Greater Portmore North, Derrick Roman, Greater Portmore East, Devon Sayers, Old Harbour North, Alphanso; Johnson, Bellevue, Hughmel Gilbert, Above Rocks, Monique Simpson, Treadways and Barrington Lawrence, Waterford.

St Mary, Portland and St Thomas had two candidates each in Dave Morris, Bellefield and Terry Ann Davidson, Islington, St Mary; Collingsworth Scott, Fellowship, and Wayne Bailey, Port Antonio, Portland; and Kerry Francis, Cedar Valley, and Francisco Bonner, Llandewey, St Thomas.

Area Council One, which covers the Corporate Area, had Jermaine Hyatt approved for Denham Town and George Planto for the Papine division approved.

Area Council Three had Barrington Smith, New Green, Robert Newman, Spur Tree, and Rev Evon James, Bensonton.

Area Council Four’s Kenroy Samuels of Ipswich, St Elizabeth, were also ratified.

Dr Chang said that the requisite training will be provided for these new candidates.