GOVERNMENT Senator Imani Duncan Price is only a step away from being publicly endorsed by the ruling People’s National Party as its candidate for St Andrew East Rural in the next general election widely expected next month, though not due in over a year.

Duncan Price was invited to make herself available to contest the seat two weeks ago, after the PNP decided against going ahead with the original man selected from constituency delegates’ votes, Peter Blake, as he was ruled ineligible by the party’s Integrity Commission. Specific reasons for his rejection were not given. It marked the second time in four years that Blake had been turned down by the PNP in the same seat, the first being in 2011.

At that time university lecturer Damion Crawford was thrown into the political den, and he justified the confidence placed in him by the party by scoring a narrow victory over the Jamaica Labour Party’s Joan Gordon-Webley, who has now expressed her support for the PNP.

Crawford lost support among delegates and was beaten by Blake in a run-off last month. He had been asked by the party to contest the seat afterwards, but declined, citing lingering ‘bad blood’ that could result in less people voting for the party.

Now, Duncan Price, 38, an executive of the family-run JMMB Group, has already been cleared by the Integrity Commission and was approved late last week by the Constituency Committee.

The only hurdle to be cleared is getting the approval of the party officers group, which is expected by this week.

Chairman of the PNP’s powerful Region Three (Kingston and St Andrew), Phillip Paulwell, told the Jamaica Observer yesterday that the process was all but completed, and the party officers were expected to endorse the former Miss Jamaica (World).

“The constituency organisation and the region have recommended to the party that Comrade Imani Duncan Price be the candidate in the next election,” Paulwell stated.

“I am very pleased with the unity within the constituency now, and we in the region believe that she is the best person who can further unite us going forward,” added Paulwell, who is member of parliament for Kingston East and Port Royal, as well as minister of science, technology, energy and mining.

When the Sunday Observer first broke the story of Duncan Price heading to St Andrew East Rural, party officials, some of who knew the facts, including General Secretary Paul Burke and campaign spokesman Delano Franklyn, kept denying that she was the chosen one.

Even some media organisations joined in the chorus, chanting that no candidate was selected for the seat. This only served to increase anxiety among members of the constituency’s set-up, with one veteran Dallas Castle resident and firm party supporter urging the party to stop sending conflicting messages.

“It was public knowledge all along that Blake would not run, and that Ms Price had been asked to take over and had accepted the offer,” the veteran Comrade said.

“So for Paul Burke and Delano Franklyn to come on television and say that no decision was made when, in fact, the decision was already made, it smacked of a little bit of dishonesty.

“East Rural needs to settle down now. Some of us were not happy with the stewardship of Damion Crawford, and it is time now that the party gets its act together with respect to the seat and allow the lady to begin the hard work that lies ahead,” the veteran said.

Duncan Price declined to comment when the Sunday Observer contacted her after several attempts late yesterday.

Duncan Price is likely to go up against another Senator, attorney-at-law Alexander Williams, brother of another lawyer and head of the Independent Commission of Investigations Terrence Williams.

Williams has been billed as one of the speakers at a forum in the Gordon Town division of the constituency today, although word has emerged that the JLP was still examining his clout in the seat and assessing whether or not he has the capacity to beat Duncan Price.

Former MP and Cabinet minister Dr Christopher Tufton has been mentioned as a possible alternative, should the party not go for Williams.