THE Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) yesterday formally told Duane Smith that he will not be the governing party’s candidate for the St Andrew North Western seat, a decision that will likely draw the ire of his father, Derrick, who has made it clear that he will not sanction any attempt to parachute a candidate into the constituency.

The elder Smith, who represented the constituency for 29 years, has given his firm backing to his son, the councillor for the Chancery Hall Division in the constituency. He has also insisted that his replacement should be chosen in keeping with the party’s constitution, which includes consultation with the constituency executive.

However, yesterday JLP General Secretary Horace Chang, in a letter addressed to Duane Smith dated January 31, 2018, said: “This is to inform you that the Standing Committee of the Jamaica Labour Party, on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, unanimously accepted the recommendation of the Selection Committee to appoint Ambassador Nigel Clarke as caretaker for the North West St Andrew constituency, effective the said date.”

Duane Smith and Ambassador Clarke, a former Opposition senator, were the two candidates interviewed by the JLP’s Selection Committee to contest the seat in an upcoming by-election triggered by Derrick Smith’s retirement last month. However, JLP insiders have been telling journalists that the party hierarchy has a preference for Clarke, who serves on the Government’s Economic Growth Council, is chairman of the National Housing Trust, and who recently became a member of the JLP.

In an interview with the Sunday Observer published on January 21, Derrick Smith had said there is no other candidate who is more qualified to replace him than his son.

“My legacy in North West St Andrew is in relation to the memories … helping youngsters in particular to achieve their goals, and that is the reason why I am so passionate about my son replacing me — very passionate about that,” Smith said.

His son, he said, was born and grew up in politics. “He was specifically prepared for it, because all along it was obvious that I was going to be out of there one day, and based upon when he established his love for it, he was systematically prepared for it and he is serving his apprenticeship. He is a second-term councillor, so he knows about the running of a constituency, he knows the JLP organisation, knows how to deal with community issues and to deal with people,” the elder Smith told the Sunday Observer.