SANTA CRUZ, St. Elizabeth:
PEOPLE'S NATIONAL Party comrades in North East St. Elizabeth are gearing up to elect a new caretaker for the constituency at the party's selection conference scheduled for this Sunday at the Santa Cruz Primary and Junior High School.
The long-awaited selection came about as sitting Member of Parliament and Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clarke, over a year ago had indicated that
he was leaving representational politics.
TWO VIE FOR SEAT
Parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Senator Kern Spencer, who is also the chairman of the constituency and Dr. Lynden Rose, a dental surgeon, are the two aspirants for the position held by Mr. Clarke for over two decades.
Donovan Pagan, councillor for the Braes River division who earlier indicated his interest in the caretaker position, recently opted from the race.
A PNP source close to Mr. Pagan informed The Gleaner earlier this week that he has withdrawn and is now supporting Senator Spencer. The source said most of the delegates who were loyal to Mr. Clarke have been upset with the minister.
SPEED EXPEDITION
On February 12 The Gleaner carried a story where councillor for the Balaclava division, Rodney Barnes called on the party's secretariat to speedily put in place a caretaker.
Vice-chairman of the Braes River division, Ian Spaulding, told The Gleaner that about 90 per cent of the delegates are
supporting Senator Spencer.
Councillor Barnes; Councillor Hubert Baker of the Siloah division; National Executive Council member, Joseph Allen; former Black River Mayor, Daphne Holmes; and constituency secretary, Glena Slowly, are all supporting Senator Spencer, Mr. Spaulding said.
