Clarke walks out on Westmoreland debate

Westmoreland:

A debate between two sets of candidates seeking to represent Westmoreland constituencies in Parliament came to a sudden halt on Wednesday as the People's National Party's Central Westmoreland candidate Roger Clarke walked out.

It was after responding to a question posed by the Jamaica Labour Party's candidate for the constituency, Marlene Malahoo Forte, that Clarke noted his disgust at how the event was being managed and made his exit.

"When we were invited here, we were told that it is a select group of persons that would be here," Clarke protested. "I didn't know we invited cheerleaders here."

He added: "But what I get to understand now is that we are loaded with people who have come to divagate ... and I will walk away from this. I don't have to be here."

Slapping the table twice, he gave his parting shot.

"I will take my message to the people and I am leaving now," Clarke declared.

He exited the room with a group of supporters, after which Dr Wykeham McNeill, Clarke's party colleague seeking to return to Parliament for Western Westmoreland, had a few hushed words with the moderator, the Reverend Caulton Wilson.

McNeill then also exited.

With just Malahoo Forte and Carey Wallace - McNeill's JLP counterpart - in the debaters' seat, Wilson ended the proceedings.

Prior to the halt, the debate was quite energetic with all four participants presenting strong opening speeches for which they were alloted five minutes apiece.

The JLP led off in both cases with Malahoo Forte, then Clarke for Central Westmoreland and then Wallace before McNeill for Western Westmoreland. The two JLP candidates argued about poor representation in the last Parliament by the two PNP aspirants, bringing into focus roads, water, housing, social conditions, youth and employment.

On the other side, the PNP candidates spoke about what they have done over their respective years as MPs.

Achievements

McNeill spoke of his achievements in his three-term tenure while Clarke explained what he has done for the constituency with $96 million over the four years he has been leading Central Westmoreland. They both outlined their plans for their respective constituencies, given the chance to continue to serve. However, Clarke was adamant that the resources he was given to use were far too inadequate.

The event was the brainchild of businessman Norman Anderson and was held at his establishment, CRM Entertainment Complex. A hand-picked committee signed off on an agreement that 80 selected people should be in the room where the debate would be held.

Party supporters would stay at a selected spot some distance away from the actual debate and would have access by way of a video monitor.

The monitor was not installed, hence persons within earshot were eventually allowed to join the audience. With one side of the hall coloured in green and orange, the shouts and applause which were initially not a part of the event were heard frequently as supporters cheered on their candidates, changing the mood, and eventually leading to Clarke's concern.

The two candidates for East Westmoreland, the PNP's Luther Buchanan and the JLP's Don Foote did not participate. Buchanan had asked to be excused based on his role as assistant general secretary of the PNP in charge of campaign duties, leaving Foote with no opponent.

rural@gleanerjm.com