PEOPLE’S National Party (PNP) candidate for the constituency of Clarendon South Eastern, Patricia Duncan Sutherland, has vowed to make the constituency she hopes to represent the place to “live, work and raise families”.

Duncan Sutherland, daughter of veteran politician and party stalwart Dr D K Duncan — the sitting member of parliament for Hanover Eastern and chairman for the party’s Region 6 — is looking to unseat the Jamaica Labour Party’s Rudyard Spencer.

“… I am here as your facilitator to facilitate your growth… to facilitate our success in South East Clarendon,” Duncan Sutherland told party faithfuls of the constituency, who gathered at the Old Hayes School grounds Sunday night.

The former executive director of business operations at Jamaica Money Market Brokers Limited, charged the gathering to expect a different relationship with their MP, insisting the MP “is not the big man, but a partner and a facilitator”.

She told the party’s supporters her goal is to foster empowerment and sustainable transformation that transcend the political divide.

Duncan Sutherland listed several challenges which she said have contributed to the underdevelopment of the constituency — among them the absence of potable water, legal energy connection, and land ownership — suggesting that under her watch, constituents would be better placed to enjoy these basic necessities.

She said, however, that this will remain improbable if constituents did not exercise the party’s PAR (Participate, Accountability and Responsibility) principle, and if constituents allowed themselves to be derailed from progress with handouts.

“…When you choose your representative, I am suggesting that you choose a facilitator. Do not base your choice for money,” she urged, pledging to bring a new type of politics to the constituency.

“I commit to be your facilitator; I commit to have open communication with you; I commit to respect you; I commit to love you; I commit to continue the journey in South East Clarendon of politics, partnership and love,” said Duncan Sutherland to loud cheers and the high-volume sound of vuvuzelas.

And with firestorms brewing in several PNP constituencies, Duncan Sutherland is enjoying the full support of councillors and caretakers, including mayor of May Pen and Councillor for the Hayes Division Scean Barnswell.

Barnswell insisted that constituencies within the parish only saw improvement under PNP leadership.

“Comrades, go out and continue giving your support, ensure victory for the People’s National Party, ensure victory for all the four divisions, and ensure victory for South East Clarendon with Patricia Duncan Sutherland,” Barnswell said.

Guest speaker, Natalie Neita Headley, minister without portfolio with responsibility for sports, used the occasion to call for unity within the party.

“People talking about labourisation of a party… [Saul] became Paul on the road… anybody can be revived, anybody eyes can be opened… You could have been a backslider for many years and Jesus said look at the PNP as the party of choice and you change,” she argued in relation to recent comments made by PNP colleague Dr Dayton Campbell.

“This is the time that you come together, work together, and unite and pull a victory for the People’s National Party,” she said.