By Rayon Dyer, Gleaner Writer
ST. ELIZABETH:
PARLIAMENTARY
secretary in the Ministry of National Security, Kern Spencer, was selected unopposed as the People's National Party (PNP) caretaker for the
constituency of North East St. Elizabeth on Sunday.
However, minutes before
nomination of candidates, the other contender, dental surgeon Dr. Lynden Rose, left the meeting with his supporters citing
irregularities in the voters' list.
Speaking at the meeting after Mr. Spencer was declared the caretaker for the constituency, general secretary of the PNP, Burchell Whiteman, said he fully endorsed the process by which Mr. Spencer was declared as the new caretaker for North East St. Elizabeth.
"Some 400 and odd persons were registered to participate in this selection process to identify a new caretaker for the constituency. I see nothing wrong with how the registration was done," Senator Whiteman stated.
Senator Whiteman, who is leader of government business in the senate told the gathering that "He (Kern Spencer) is a strong youth leader. He can represent people. I want to say also that as a member of the Senate, I have noted the quality work of Mr. Spencer. He will make a good representative."
The selection meeting which took place at the Santa Cruz Primary and Junior High School had approximately 500 members and supporters of the PNP in attendance. Several of these were clad in T-shirts supporting National Security Minister Dr. Peter Phillips' bid for party president, although he was not present at Sunday's meeting.
EMPLOYMENT A PRIORITY
In his response Mr. Spencer thanked the delegates for the
confidence they had placed in him. He said that with the campaign over, the work to develop the
constituency had just started.
"Youth training and employment has to be a priority in this constituency. The development of the constituency will not happen overnight. Instead, everything that needs to be done should take place through a
partnership between you and I," Mr. Spencer told the delegates who cheered him on with shouts of "Go Kern go! Go Kern go! Go Kern, go!"
Mr. Spencer will replace the outgoing MP and Agriculture Minister, Roger Clarke, who has indicated that he will not be seeking re-election in the next general elections. Mr. Clarke was absent from Sunday's meeting.
Mr. Spencer is PNP Youth Organisation president and
parliamentary secretary in the Ministry of National Security. He is also a former president of the Guild of Undergraduates at the University of the West Indies.
