Dear Editor,

I believe when Omar Davies retires from representational politics and his St Andrew Southern seat becomes available, he should be succeeded by the hard-working music mogul Patrick Roberts.

Roberts hails from and is quite familiar with that particular constituency. Even though he has been the losing candidate in another constituency over the years, he has put in lot of work in the St Andrew Southern constituency as well, even back in the days with Beenie Man. And the reason I believe he didn’t have the desire to contest the seat is because there was no vacancy his mentor was already the Member of Parliament for the area. So bring him home. He already has ties to the community. He’s president of the Arnett Gardens Football Club.

Therefore, I’m surprised that Davies didn’t make it known that Roberts should be his logical successor. It is a safe seat, and that is the real reason I believe former Justice Minister Mark Golding and former managing director of Jamaica Urban Transit Company Colin Campbell are showing interest. But in fairness, Roberts’s hard work must be recognised and taken into consideration in both constituencies. He has a stellar track record in this regard and he cares. It is about performance, not promises; results and not rhetoric.

If both of these opportunists are interested in representational politics as their interest in this seat indicate, they should go and find another constituency that needs their talents and work on its development. They want to take the easy road by getting a ready-made constituency. That is not the way it works.

So when the time comes, I’m expecting Roberts to throw his hat in the race. And I’m pretty sure if he does, he’ll be quite successful.

As I have stated previously, I have an affinity for grass-roots politicians and Roberts is one of them. In the meantime, I trust the hierarchy of the People’s National Party will get it right this time and not blow this one, like they blew the last election.

I would also like to wish Dr Omar Davies a full and complete recovery, and thank him for his tireless service to the nation. It is very much appreciated.

Noel Mitchell

Westchester, New York

nlmworld@yahoo.com