IN his youth playing Manning Cup football and Sunlight Cup cricket for Camperdown High School, Wavell Hinds established himself as a team player. This continued during his time as a member of the Jamaica and West Indies cricket teams.

Now that he has entered the political arena Hinds is continuing to display that trait, conceding in the race to represent the People’s National Party (PNP) in St Ann South Eastern and urging his supporters to line up behind his closest opponent Dr Kenneth Russell, who has been given the nod by the party to be its standard-bearer in the constituency.

On Thursday the Jamaica Observer first reported that Hinds would be pulling out of a run-off with Russell slated for Sunday and leave the way clear for the man who beat him in an initial selection race to be named the candidate.

This has since been confirmed by Hinds who, in a statement Thursday morning, declared his commitment to helping Russell retain the PNP stronghold in the party’s winning column whenever the next general election is held.

“I committed to the Regional Appraisal Committee (Region 1) at my interview that, if I did not secure the candidacy, I would stay and work as hard as I can to ensure that St Ann South Eastern remains in the party’s hands.

“This promise now extends to Comrade Russell and his team. We are all Comrades, and we have one aim — to become the next Government because Jamaica needs the People’s National Party,” said Hinds in his concession letter.

“Congratulations to Comrade Dr Kenneth Russell for receiving the most delegate votes, and to Comrade Patricia Sutherland, I say a well-fought contest and a worthy adversary.

“To all my supporters, who ‘caught the wave’, especially the three sitting councillors and the councillor candidate, Comrades Ian Bell, Lydia Richards, Lambert Weir and Lloyd Garrick, and my campaign team, your sacrifice is greatly appreciated and has not gone unnoticed. To the citizens of St Ann South Eastern who participated in the party’s commissioned independent polls and the delegates’ run-off, many thanks for your involvement and contribution,” added Hinds.

In the selection contest conducted on June 11, Russell polled 358 votes to Hinds’ 245, and Duncan Sutherland’s 171 votes.

This prompted Russell’s supporters to declare him the candidate although he had failed to achieve the party’s pass mark of 50 per cent plus one.

Hours after the Observer story was published on Thursday, the PNP confirmed that Russell would be its candidate in the constituency which has long been among its bastions.

“At last Sunday’s meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC), the party’s Election Monitoring Committee (EMC) recommended that the final run-off/poll would include the two aspirants who secured the highest votes but did not reach the 50 per cent plus one threshold in the initial run-off.

“As per the EMC’s decision, Comrades Kenneth Russell and Wavell Hinds, who emerged as the top two candidates from the first run-off, were selected to move forward in the contest. Comrade Dr Russell has since been declared the candidate, as Comrade Wavell Hinds has graciously conceded,” said the party in a mid-morning release.

It said that Russell is an esteemed education specialist and holder of a PhD in Education, has demonstrated outstanding commitment to public service, and has made significant contributions to the field of education in Jamaica.

“His selection as the PNP candidate for SE St Ann reflects his exemplary qualifications, passion for community development, and his unwavering dedication to his country,” added the PNP as it applauded Hinds for conceding.

“Comrade Wavell Hinds showcased commendable dedication and commitment throughout the selection process. His gracious concession to Dr Russell exemplifies his strong commitment to the party’s principles and the spirit of comradeship.

“The PNP expresses its heartfelt thanks to Comrade Hinds for his participation and contributions to the party and wishes him continued success in his future endeavours,” added the release issued by party General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell,

The party also urged its supporters in the constituency, which has been a theatre of bitter infighting for some time, to work with Russell.

“Your active engagement, enthusiasm, and dedication will be crucial in building a strong campaign and achieving success in the upcoming general elections. Dr Russell’s vision, expertise in education, and commitment to community development make him an ideal candidate to champion the interests and address the needs of the constituents in south east St Ann.

“Let us stand shoulder to shoulder and work to ensure that the voice of the people is heard and their aspirations are met,” said Campbell.

Responding to the party’s decision, Russell said he was grateful to all of the Comrades who participated in the selection process.

“The endorsement of Comrade Hinds and the support of Comrade Duncan Sutherland affirm [the] readiness of the party and delegates to begin the work that is required to further the development of the constituency. This is a great opportunity for this constituency, the heart of the party, to heal and move forward united,” said Russell.

“I will work with the current Member of Parliament, Comrade Lisa Hanna, the leadership of Region One and other Comrades to transition and begin preparation for the next general election. I extend a special invitation to the councillors and divisional leaders in the constituency to join me as we begin the process of reconciliation,” added Russell.

The selection process became necessary after Hanna, in a letter to PNP President Mark Golding last August, stated her intention to not offer herself as a candidate for the party at the next general election.

She told the PNP that it needed to embrace change, empower young people and attract the right talent in order to survive.

She also said that her tenure in representational politics “has not always been easy” and the political baptisms of fire to which she was subjected “were often unrelenting and excruciating”.

In 2007 Hanna was parachuted into St Ann South Eastern by then party president, Portia Simpson Miller, to contest the general election that year. She won the seat, which has traditionally voted PNP, and enjoyed popular support, retaining it at each parliamentary poll. However, over time her relationship with some Comrades in and outside the constituency turned frosty and, in the September 2020 General Election she scraped home by a mere 31 votes.

The PNP’s loss in that election resulted in then President Dr Peter Phillips stepping down. In November 2020 Hanna contested the presidential vacancy but lost to Golding by 296 votes.