KINGSTON, Jamaica — Minister of Education, Senator Ruel Reid has been endorsed as the new Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) caretaker in North West St Ann.

The decision was made at a special Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) delegates’ meeting at the Cardiff Hotel in Runaway Bay, St Ann late yesterday after the party’s chairman for the constituency Othneil Lawrence announced his decision to vacate the post.

Lawrence had made his intention known at another JLP meeting held earlier at the Runaway Bay Heart Academy and gave his support to Reid, who was thankful.

“Unity is #STRENGTH Thank you for the support my brother Othneil #ProsperityWithRuelReid #NwStAnn @jlpjamaica,” Reid tweeted from his newly created NW St Ann Twitter page.  

Meanwhile, the outgoing chairman said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve in the constituency.

In a lengthy Facebook post prior to his announcement, Lawrence said: “As I reflect on the many years I offered myself to constituents, families and friends of North West St Ann, the place in which I was born, raised, live and do business, I am honoured and grateful. This was an excellent opportunity to serve as Member of Parliament and JLP Caretaker for over a decade.

“I shared most of my youthful days and sacrificed a lot especially family and resources but experienced real joy and pain but nevertheless I worked very hard with councillors and workers of this noble party to move this seat that was considered a PNP safe seat to a marginal seat after it was abandoned by previous JLP representative.”  

Lawrence lost the seat to the People’s National Party’s Dayton Campbell by more than 300 votes in the 2016 General Elections.

He secured 8084 votes to Campbell’s 8449 votes.