Dear Editor,

The leadership of Member of Parliament Marsha Smith in St Ann North Eastern has been poor.

Last year there were two major protest at the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) constituency office as a result.

Party leader Andrew Holness and General Secretary Horace Chang were vital in her winning the constituency and I wonder if they are proud of her performance or are having regrets.

Reports are that she has used up only $3 million of the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) money out of the possible $19 million allocated to her. What’s going to happen to the remaining approximately $16 million.

The reality of the matter is that $19 million annually is chicken feed to run any seat in Jamaica; therefore, no Member of Parliament should have funds returning to the Government.

The next general election is due September 2025, I don’t see her turning around her performance by then, so hopefully the Jamaica Labour Party leadership, at the very least, gets someone in the seat next year as chairman to replace her.

Even though St Ann North Eastern is a fortress of the JLP, she could well cause that seat to become a battleground one. I am not sure she can motivate even the base to come vote for her or the JLP.

Teddylee Gray

Ocho Rios, St Ann

teddylee.gray@gmail.com