FALMOUTH, Trelawny — A high-ranking People’s National Party (PNP) insider believes booted candidate for Trelawny Northern, Dennis Meadows will be returned as constituency chairman at the next constituency conference.

Meadows was dropped last week by PNP President Mark Golding as punishment for his endorsement of lottery scamming while campaigning for the February 26, 2024 local government elections. Despite public outrage and some calls for him to be stripped of all leadership roles, the PNP has given no indication that he will be asked to step aside as constituency chairman.

Efforts to get a comment on the issue from PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell were futile on Monday as calls to his cellphone went unanswered. However, a senior party official with links to the Trelawny Northern constituency explained that the party will listen to the people on the ground.

“The chairman of the constituency doesn’t have anything to do with who the candidate is, so if the people put back Dennis, is so it go. He has not been kicked out of the party; he’s a member of the party. It’s a recognised constituency so how do you tell a member of the party in a recognised constituency — who don’t have any criminal charges against him — that he can’t be a chairman if the people want him?” asked the source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The insider added that, with the current mood of party supporters in Trelawny Northern they are likely to support Meadows as chairman at the next constituency conference expected between June and August.

“The people are vexed; they say the party leader shouldn’t take him out,“ said the PNP source.

Meadows has made it clear that he has no intention of relinquishing his hold on the role. He hinted that it may be his launching pad for greater things in the future.

Had Meadows remained the candidate the next parliamentary election would have been his fourth attempt at winning the seat, as he had previously unsuccessfully contested it as a member of the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

In a video of him addressing supporters days after being upbraided by the PNP for his pro-scamming remarks, Meadows made it clear to members of the JLP that they have not seen the last of him.

“I am disappointed, but I am not bitter. I remain the chairman of this constituency, I remain on the ground, and who knows? Who knows what will come out of that? I am going nowhere, so any Labourite who thinks they have gotten rid of me, I remain here. I am going to remain here, work hard until the victory and the PNP is returned to Northern Trelawny,” he said.

Meadows said he understood that Golding had to act quickly and decisively.

“I told the leader that I understood his position, and in fact I commended him for moving with alacrity to hold me accountable — although I said to him I would rather have an opportunity to resign, because I was prepared to resign if asked. But he said he wanted was to move quickly and, therefore, I accepted it.,” Meadows said.

“I commend him, because what it suggests is that the People’s National Party is a party of integrity and principles. If I had said the same thing on the other side where I am coming from I would have gotten away with it, so Comrade leader acted the right way,” he added.

He said on refection he is embarrassed at his utterances.

“Although it was a section of a greater speech, but that little snippet alone, even when I saw it and heard it, I cringed because it don’t sound like me talking. As I said to the leader, he asked me if I had a little drink before and I said, ‘Yes’ — and I did have a few drinks of vodka before. I went too far in making that point, and one thing you learn as adults: When you do something wrong you hold yourself accountable — and I accept full accountability for those words that came out of my mouth,” said Meadows.