Alfred Dawes, popular medical doctor seeking to be the People’s National Party (PNP) candidate for St Catherine South Eastern in the general election due 2025, on Tuesday, during the launch of his political bid, pronounced dead the campaign of his rival, Alric Campbell.

At the launch, held in the Portmore community of Waterford, Dr Dawes — a general, laparoscopicand bariatric surgeon by profession — armed with a stethoscope around his neck said, “It is incumbent on me as a medical doctor, registered in Jamaica, having found no signs of life in the campaign, no heartbeat of the people, no breath of fresh air, on April 11, at 9:45 pm, I pronounce the other campaign dead.”

Campbell is the PNP councillor of the Edgewater Division in Portmore. He is also seeking to represent the PNP for the constituency at the 2025 General Election polls.

But, after firing the political salvo, Dr Dawes declared that his campaign will not focus on attacking the fellow Comrade, rather he is extending an invitation to him so both of them can work together.

“He is a good man and will continue to be a good councillor, supported by an excellent Member of Parliament (MP),” an ambitious Dawes said, in reference to himself as the next MP for the constituency.

“This campaign is to bring about unity in South East St Catherine. There is too much division in the party and it is hurting everybody. The people are fed up with the current Administration and are begging us to unite, get our house in order, and take the reins of Government from the evil Jamaica Labour Party,” he said in front of scores of PNP supporters.

Two senior members of the PNP, Fitz Jackson, MP of St Catherine Southern, and PNP stalwart K D Knight, declared at the launch that they have no hard feelings towards Alric Campbell, but indicated they support Dr Dawes.

In the meantime, Dr Dawes, who spoke about some of the changes he plans to make if he assumes the position of MP, said many youth have died on his operating table due to crime and violence. He suggested it was his calling to save them by impacting their lives positively from the streets, and added that his newness to politics should be viewed as an advantage for the people.

“When they ask why a doctor is doing politics, I ask you why not, when we live in a sick society that is bawling out for help. Listen to the murders today and yesterday alone. I have pronounced dead too many future lawyers, doctors, nurses, and leaders in the operating theatre as a result of crime and violence. I could not save them on my operating table; therefore, I must try to save them from the streets. Maybe politics is the way for me to show them that there is another way to make a life, and the way to get the Government of the day to understand that the key to solving our crime problem is not states of public emergencies, but the state of our communities.

“I am not here to be a don to rule over you. I am here to be your voice and your servant. I see my newness as my greatest strength. I am using politics as a tool for me to continue on this path of service and empowerment to the people I hope to serve.”

Further, Dr Dawes said he was no newcomer to Portmore and shared that he lived there upon returning to Jamaica after studying overseas.

“I used to stay with my aunt in 3 West, Greater Portmore when Popcaan was just trying to make it in the music business. I slept on her day bed until I got a place to rent. I lived here when I was working at the Spanish Town Hospital. People don’t know that I have called Portmore home for over 10 years. People say I should have gotten a safer seat, but I know that God wants me to go through this.”

In addition, Dawes also received backing from supporters of the PNP who were at Tuesday’s launch.

One woman, who said her name was Moy, described Dr Dawes’ speech as “great” and said she agreed when he said that politicians must do work and not only when an election is approaching.

Another supporter, Karen, stated that candidates should do more action than talking and expressed confidence that Dawes is the man for the job.

“So far he seems a man of action,” she said.

Michelle Thomas, councillor candidate for the Duhaney Park Division in St Andrew, said it gave her great pleasure and honour to hear him speak about the vision he has for Portmore.

“We need candidates with high profile to come and reshape the landscape of the People’s National Party.”

Devon Rattray, who said he has been observing Dr Dawes for quite some time, indicated that he was very impressed by him.

“He is a young, black man and a people’s man. I never knew he had so much love for politics. I always see him as a doctor for the people, but being here tonight, and to see how him address himself, I think he is real. His speech was a real speech. It was a Michael Manley-type speech, and a speech towards the poor in Jamaica.”