The executive committee of the People’s National Party (PNP) has approved Krystal Tomlinson as its new representative in St Andrew West Rural despite efforts of fellow contender Rohan Banks to get the job.

In a release yesterday, the PNP said based on a recommendation from the St Andrew West Rural Constituency Committee Tomlinson was selected to be its candidate for the seat.

“West Rural St Andrew is an ‘unrecognised’ constituency and is not eligible to elect a candidate, but may make a recommendation, in accordance with the party’s constitution,” said PNP General Secretary Julian Robinson.

He said the constituency conducted an evaluation exercise, involving a number of aspirants and made the recommendation.

According to Robinson, Tomlinson faced the party’s Integrity Commission before she got the nod of approval from the PNP executive body.

Tomlinson, who is currently serving as president of the People’s National Party Youth Organisation, is an accomplished communicator and author, and serves as head of new media for the party, said Robinson.

Banks had lost a 2017 selection contest to Jennifer Housen but remained active in the constituency, where he has family and business ties.

Earlier this month news emerged that Tomlinson was set to be confirmed by the party’s secretariat to contest the seat which is held by the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) Juliet Cuthbert Flynn, and which has changed hands to the victorious party in every election since 2007 when the JLP’s Andrew Gallimore defeated the PNP’s Andrea Moore to retain the constituency.

In 2011, the PNP’s Paul Buchanan polled 7,716 votes to Gallimore’s 7,479 to take the seat and help his party to election victory.

Buchanan registered a slight decline in votes polled in 2016 (7,638), which was not enough to stave off the challenge of newcomer Cuthbert Flynn, who polled 9,736 to win the seat for the JLP and help that party earn the majority of seats in Parliament.