Gammon takes aim at PNP’s playground of South West Clarendon

Attorney-at-law Kent Gammon has big dreams for the constituency of South West Clarendon and is confident that he will emerge victorious when the votes are counted on election day, February 25, despite the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) never winning the seat in a contested poll since it was created in 1980.

Gammon is seeking to unseat the sitting Member of Parliament Noel Arscott and put the constituency in the winning column for the Jamaica Labour Party.

According to Gammon, he wants to beat the People's National Party's standard-bearer because he is confident he can do a better job in running the affairs of the constituency.

"I believe that my character of integrity and commitment to the people and my county will make me a far better member of parliament for the people of this division," Gammon told The Sunday Gleaner.

The attorney, who had initially expressed an interest in replacing Dr Ken Baugh in the West Central St Catherine seat, told our news team that he is a compassionate person who cares deeply about the Jamaican people.

Gammon said his constituents can trust him to do his work in ensuring they move from "poverty to prosperity".

He added that getting jobs for the people is at the top of his to-do list as there are thousands of unemployed persons in his constituency, which has recorded zero economic growth for many years now.

"I will bring big business to employ the thousands of unemployed people, such as developing Spring Plain as an agro industrial park, developing Vernamfield as a logistics and cargo hub," said Gammon.

The founding member of the JLP's young professional group, Generation 2000, said he also has big plans for the Milk River Hotel and Spa, which he wants to see expanded it into a wellness community centre.

"That will create several thousand jobs," said Gammon.

The married father of three, who hails from St Andrew, is a member of the St Margaret's Anglican Church.

A past student of Calabar and Wolmer's, Gammon said if voters ensure that he is elected there would be only good things, as he plans on using his business and legal experience to create and develop industries that will result in more jobs.

"I also believe that I will be a better manager of the taxes and I will use it to maintain the drains, to fix the roads in the farm areas such as Milk River and environs, and Springfield," said Gammon.

 

Water supply

 

The JLP standard-bearer said increasing the supply of potable water to several areas in the constituency is also high on his agenda.

As the election approaches, Gammon is confident that he will send Arscott, a PNP vice-president, into political retirement.

"My chances are very good, because the people want a change, they are tired of 27 years of zero growth and poverty in that constituency."

Gammon, who is 46 years old, has a growing history in the political arena despite this being his first time representing the party.

In 1994, he was the public relations officer for Young Jamaica, before helping to form G2K which he served as a vice-president for three years.

He has also served as the deputy opposition spokesman on justice as well as deputy opposition spokesman on industry, investment trade, mining and energy. Gammon also served as the JLP's deputy treasurer.