Gareth Manning, Gleaner Writer
AFTER ADMITTING that he was contemplating resigning from active politics, Finance Minister Dr. Omar Davies says he will not be stepping down.
He was speaking to delegates at the Avon Park Community Centre in South St. Andrew after he received a unanimous vote to represent the People's National Party in the next general election, constitutionally due next year.
"Tonight is a historic night," he said.
"To tell you the truth, a month ago, the ending would be different. I would have said goodbye and have handed over to a successor, but the time is not right. There is more work to be done at the constituency level and nationally," he said to cheers from several supporters.
Dr. Davies said he was considering retiring from active politics because he wanted to explore other opportunities in Jamaica.
He said he will instead be giving more support to the fight against crime and improving access to education in his South St. Andrew constituency.
"We are declaring all-out war on crime and violence," he told constituents Saturday night. The country, he said, has no future if criminality was an alternative and urged his constituents to wash their hands of criminal links.
"Criminality is criminality, I don't recognise PNP criminality, I don't recognise JLP criminality and I condemn and oppose and I am totally at war with criminality and if you are with me you must declare war too," he said.
He said special focus would be placed on improving primary education, access to training institutes and continuing education for adults.
"When a student leaves either Trench Town or Charley Smith, they are not only trained to be ready for the world of work, but they are ready to be decent citizens of Jamaica," he said.
But while he has indicated that he will not be resigning from his position as Member of Parliament for South St. Andrew or Finance Minister, Dr. Davies will not be returning as the PNP region three chairman. The seat becomes vacant next month.
"I am going to focus on my constituency and my national responsibilities," he told The Gleaner.
