THE governing People’s National Party (PNP) has confirmed new dates for the selection of candidates in two rural constituencies.

General Secretary Paul Burke told the Jamaica Observer by phone yesterday that the contest between Member of Parliament for St Ann South Eastern Lisa Hanna and Councillor Lydia Richards (Bensonton Division) has been pushed back to Sunday, September 27. The contest was originally slated for Saturday, September 26.

Hanna is not, at this time, enjoying the backing of three of four councillors of the St Ann Parish Council, but from all accounts she is still the favourite among delegates.

The two-term MP’s stewardship again came under the microscope following a protest over the non-paving of the grounds at Prickly Pole Primary School in Claremont.

The Jamaica Observer has since learnt that the contractor general has launched an investigation into the matter.

In the meantime, Burke said the run-off in St Andrew East Rural, involving first-time Member of Parliament Damion Crawford and businessman Peter Blake, has been set for October 4.

The winner emerging from each contest is expected to be the party’s standard bearers in the next general election, which is constitutionally due December 2016, but which, it is widely speculated, will be held before the end of this year.

The rumblings in St Andrew East Rural emerged after Crawford had announced that he would not be seeking re-election. Crawford admitted that he was not convinced at the time of his announcement that the style of politics he brought to the constituency would propel him to victory at the polls. He later made an about-turn, saying that his earlier announcement was a trick.