SANDY BAY, Hanover — Former Hanover Eastern Member of Parliament Dr DK Duncan has returned to active politics, albeit temporarily, following the outcome of a delegate vote for him to assume the chairmanship of the People’s National Party (PNP) Hanover Eastern constituency.

The voting was conducted on Sunday during a PNP constituency conference held at the Sandy Bay Primary and Junior High School in Hanover.

“… It was unanimous that he (Dr Duncan) return and will serve as the chairman of the constituency for Hanover Eastern for the next political year,” said Wynter McIntosh, mayor of Lucea.

The post was formerly held by Dr Duncan, but when he left active politics it was filled by McIntosh, who ran in the February 28 General Election, but lost to the Jamaica Labour Party’s Dave Brown.

Meanwhile, Dr Duncan’s temporary reinstatement to the post is deemed as a strategic move, geared towards strengthening the party’s preparation for the upcoming local government elections.

Following the vote, Dr Duncan appointed Mayor McIntosh, who is the councillor of the Chester Castle Division; two new councillor caretakers, Sharon Taylor of the Hopewell Division and Andria Dehaney Dinham of the Sandy Bay Division; and Moncrieff Leslie, a former PNP mayor of Lucea, as his deputies.

Meanwhile, McIntosh told the Jamaica Observer West that a few days before, he had indicated to Dr Duncan that he would be in need of his assistance.

Mayor McIntosh said Dr Duncan is expected to hold the position for a year.

“Yes, we expect that Dr Duncan will hold this position for at least a year, after which the parish council election would have been behind us and then we can put in place another team now for the next political year,” explained Mayor McIntosh.

In the meantime, Dr Duncan noted that his temporary return will allow Councillor McIntosh, who “has a fight on his hands”, to focus on running his Chester Castle Division.