WITH his sights set on winning St Mary South Eastern for the People’s National Party (PNP), Christopher Brown has pledged that, if elected, his tenure will not be tainted by political bias.

“I will separate my political office from my Member of Parliament office; it will be two different things. Persons should be able to feel free to walk into my office without political stigma. It is taxpayers’ money, and I will let it work for them no matter the political party they support,” he assured.

Brown is one of the new faces vying for one of three St Mary seats. He will square off against the Jamaica Labour Party’s (JLP) incumbent Dr Norman Dunn.

The constituency was once considered a safe seat for the JLP when it was won for four consecutive terms by Alva Ross. But it was flipped by the PNP’s Harry Douglas in 1989. Douglas also held it for four consecutive terms until he lost to the JLP’s Tarn Peralto in 2007. By the next election it was back in the hands of the PNP, with Dr Winston Green taking the constituency by a razor-thin margin. Green’s death in 2016 saw a by-election held in the constituency in 2017, won by Dunn who has made heavy weather of the fact that he is a son of the soil.

In a recent sit-down with the Jamaica Observer Brown addressed, head-on, the suggestion that he is an outsider. He has borne the brunt of jabs, on the campaign trail, from critics who stress that he was not born in the constituency or parish.

“I wasn’t born here but my mother and grandmother are from [the] Camberwell and Georges Hope communities, and as a boy I spent my summers here — which were some of the best years of growing up,” Brown said earnestly.

He is concerned about what he sees as a lack of opportunities within the constituency, something he is determined to change if elected. Brown sees representational politics as a way to provide a better life for the people of St Mary South Eastern. His dream is to reverse the trend of constituents leaving, to see them choose instead to return or remain there and be part of a brighter future. What currently obtains, he said, is “very troubling” and “heart rending”.

“What we have seen in the past nine years was a promise of prosperity, but south-east has emerged as the poorest in St Mary out of the three constituencies on any economic data. It has the largest unemployment [rate], businesses are leaving, people are migrating. It’s a haemorrhaging, a total dismantling of the economic infrastructure and opportunities within the seat,” Brown argued.

He cited inadequacies in basic infrastructure such as the water supply, roads and telecommunications. Brown pointed to what he said was Dunn’s failed promise of a regulated water supply in Belfield. According to the PNP standard-bearer, the community gets water once per week.

“The situation is still the same: The water comes into the pipes at 12 midnight and by 6:00 am it goes,” he said.

Turning his attention to the need to provide opportunities for the youth, he suggested that there are venues within the constituency that could be used to craft a solution.

“We have multiple community centres that are closed and dilapidated while our youths have not a single training centre in the constituency. The surrounding constituencies, when it comes to HEART [/NSTA Trust], they have a permanent training facility, and the youth here in south-east have to travel out. Why not have one here?” Brown queried.

“Education and training will be on the forefront. We are going to transform the community centres into training centres, have programmes to support the youth who are in agriculture,” he added.

According to Brown the youth, along with farmers and small businesses, will receive support through what he has dubbed The Start Initiative. He is convinced it will help fuel economic growth because of the positive changes it will make to these segments of the constituency.

Brown opted not to provide details about the initiative but stressed, “This will not be used from the constituency funds.”

He was more forthcoming about his plans for land distribution.

“I have said on many platforms that, through my leadership, there will be a massive land titling programme as too many of our residents are living on lands for generations and they are without titles,” said Brown.

Describing housing as a “major sore point”, he promised that if he is elected, 500 units will be available through developments in Iterboreal, Belfield and Richmond.

“Lands have already been identified,” said Brown.

He also said there will be a major push for eco-tourism, which he sees as one avenue for job creation.

“There is such a strong history embedded here [in the] Richmond, Annotto Bay and the Scotts Hall communit[ies]. Everyone can benefit from it: the artisans, farmers and small business,” the aspiring candidate said of the constituency.

With more than 23 years in business and politics, he is optimistic that his plans — if implemented — will place St Mary South Eastern at the forefront of national development. And he is convinced that he is the best choice to represent the people of St Mary South Eastern.

People’s National Party standard-bearer for St Mary South Eastern, Christopher Brown (left), with party President Mark Golding, at a recent campaign event.