BROWN’S TOWN, St Ann — Showing up at a divisional conference of the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP) in this town, former mayor of St Ann’s Bay Ivan Anderson has signalled his intention to return to the political organisation that expelled him a decade ago.

Following his expulsion, he joined the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), but failed on different occasions to make his way onto the ballot as an election candidate for that party.

He told the Jamaica Observer that he “will do the necessary” things to leave the JLP.

“With the disrespect that I am getting from the JLP, I am no longer with them,” Anderson said in an interview. “I don’t regret joining them because, to tell you the truth, I am a people person. I like to help people and, where I can lead, I will lead. If I get an opportunity to lead the people by the Jamaica Labour Party, I will. And if I get the chance in the PNP, I will.”

Anderson’s sojourn with the PNP noticeably got bumpy after April 2010 when delegates voted against his bid to become the party’s candidate in St Ann North West. They instead selected former Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas.

Anderson slipped further into political problems when he was charged with fraud and forced to resign as mayor of St Ann’s Bay.

The fraud charge was dropped in February 2011 after the complainant declined to pursue the matter.

Throughout his legal woes, Anderson remained councillor for the Brown’s Town Division, and was hoping that the PNP would have allowed him to be its flag-bearer in the same division in the 2012 local government election.

However, the PNP sidestepped him and picked businessman Delroy Redway to be its representative in the division.

Not pleased with the party’s move, Anderson became nominated as an independent candidate, forcing the PNP to expel him.

After losing at the election, Anderson, in 2014, joined the JLP. His hope of contesting elections for the JLP was crushed repeatedly until he disappeared off the political radar.

Last Thursday, many seemed surprised when Anderson emerged at the extreme back of a Brown’s Town High School classroom, where the PNP had been hosting its divisional conference.

PNP strongman in the division, Dr Michael Whittingham, while chairing the conference, introduced Anderson, who went to the front of the gathering, which erupted into celebration. President of the PNP Mark Golding also acknowledged Anderson’s presence and greeted him with a fist bump.

Dr Whittingham wasted no time in telling the gathering that he is willing to aid Anderson’s return to the organisation.

“Historically, things happened with Comrade Anderson that caused him not to be considered, by his own action, a member of the People’s National Party. But the same People’s National Party’s constitution that makes him not a member also provides for him a means by which he can be rehabilitated… I will personally assist Comrade Anderson in that process of rehabilitation,” Dr Whittingham openly promised.

At the end of the conference, Anderson told the Sunday Observer that he wants to help rebuild the PNP. “I never really gone anywhere; I am right here and I am going to build back the PNP and let them see that the PNP is still alive,” he asserted.

Anderson also promised to fully support the PNP’s candidate in the Brown’s Town Division, Gloria Clarke-Foster, otherwise called Janet.

“I see where we have a lot of problems in the Brown’s Town Division. I used to be the mayor and former councillor of Brown’s Town, and Brown’s Town was not like this — especially the leadership. The leadership needs a big change,” Anderson suggested.