THE People’s National Party (PNP) yesterday announced five new caretaker candidates for western Jamaica at its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in St James, confirming among them West indies cricketer Wavell Hinds.

The PNP said in a press statement that it was ensuring that all constituencies were outfitted with representation of the highest standard, and that the caretaker candidates had all been vetted and approved by its Integrity Commission.

Well known educator Dr Walton Small is the caretaker candidate for St James Southern, while attorney-at-law Michael Hemmings will carry the PNP flag in St James East Central.

Andre Hylton, the former St Andrew Eastern member of Parliament, will represent the party in the constituency of St James Central and, the University of the West Indies lecturer and noted economist Dr Andre Haughton will be the party’s representative in St James West Central.

In Hanover Eastern acclaimed cricketer and advocate Wavell Hinds is the caretaker candidate. The PNP described him as “no stranger to service and advocacy, as since 2012 he has been president of West Indies Players’ Association.”

“He has held many other important international positions in the sport of his choice, including executive board Member of the Federation of International Cricketers’ Association (2014 – present),” the party said.

“His mission is to advance the well-being and profession of his constituents and create a positive future for them in an evolving and diverse economy — ensuring policies work for all constituents and not just a few privileged ones,” the release stated.

Dr Small, who lectured at Sam Sharpe Teachers, College and The University of the West Indies, was vice-principal at Saint Elizabeth Technical High School and principal at Anchovy High and Wolmers’ Boys’ schools. He also headed the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association.

The PNP said that Dr Small was “ready to serve the constituents of St James Southern and will work to create a constituency that works for all”.

The PNP said Hemmings, who served as a member of the Jamaican Bar Association and the Cornwall Bar Association, had pledged to work tirelessly to improve the human capital of the constituency through education, skills training, and job opportunities.

“Hylton has a deep and unflinching passion for nation building and national service. He has served as Member of Parliament for Eastern St Andrew and is a long-serving member of the Rotary Club of Kingston in various capacities.

“He is also the founding director and chairman of the Guiding Light Foundation which has adopted two basic schools and sponsors over 60 students monthly, and runs mentorship programmes in inner-city communities,” the release noted.

The PNP said that Dr Andre Haughton, more than a scholar and educator, was “an entrepreneur, a writer, a marketer, a community worker, and a man who is on a mission to build a better Jamaica”.

“He is the founder and CEO of Scarce Commodity, a firm that markets and provides technical support to the Caribbean’s cannabis industries. Dr Andre Haughton is a senior lecturer in the Department of Economics at The University of the West Indies, Mona, and a member of the Private Sector of Jamaica Economic Policy Committee.

“He publishes a weekly briefing in the Jamaica Gleaner newspaper that simplifies, analyses, explains, and opens for discussion economic issues affecting Jamaica and by extension the Caribbean, in a global context.

“He is the founder of the Valley Foundation, a charity organisation that provides resources for at-risk and marginable youth across Jamaica. He is the author of Developing Sustainable Balance of Payments in Small Countries: Lessons from Macroeconomic Deadlock in Jamaica: Palgrave 2017.

“Dr Haughton aspires to uplift the constituency of St James West Central through social and economic empowerment, and ensure the improvement in the quality of life of the people from all cross sections of the constituency.”

PNP General Secretary Julian Robinson said the party was pleased that the five men had chosen to carry its banner, and that “the country will only benefit from their accumulated knowledge, vision and expertise”.