PNP delegates choose Zuleika Jess for St Elizabeth North Eastern
Published:Monday | June 19, 2023 | 1:09 AMChristopher Thomas/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
The People’s National Party’s (PNP) delegates in St Elizabeth North Eastern yesterday voted in attorney-at-law Zuleika Jess as the party’s prospective candidate to contest the seat in the next general election amid mixed responses between her supporters and those backing rival Kern Spencer.
Jess defeated Spencer in the delegates’ internal election process at the St Elizabeth Technical High School in Santa Cruz, claiming 569 of the 780 votes that were cast during Sunday’s election proceedings. Spencer claimed 209 votes, while two ballots were rejected.
While her jubilant supporters cheered and marched up and down the nearby roadway in celebration, blaring dancehall artiste Shaggy’s Strength of a Woman over a set of music speakers, Jess voiced thanks for the support she had got in the constituency.
“I am absolutely thrilled, I am elated, I have an immense sense of gratitude, and I am grateful to the people of North East St Elizabeth,” Jess declared. “I am grateful to my team, to the councillors ... and by and large the people of this constituency because they have carried me on their backs and they have carried me in their hearts.”
But while the day’s proceedings were largely incident-free, Spencer’s supporters were visibly more reserved prior to the announcement of the voting results, except for a few moments where they loudly protested against the election process.
At one point during Jess’ supporters’ victory celebrations, tensions in the Spencer camp boiled over as several of the delegates who backed him argued that some 390 delegates were not allowed to cast their ballots, thereby, in their view, rendering the vote illegitimate.
Despite that, however, Jess gave the assurance that she was willing to work with Spencer to win the constituency for the PNP.
“He is a Comrade, and there is always a place for him within the PNP, and in particular within North East St Elizabeth under my leadership. So he is welcome, my doors are open, we are one family, and we are going to remain united and move forward,” Jess said in commenting on Spencer.
The Gleaner sought an interview with Spencer, who was briefly seen with his supporters before the election results were announced, for a comment on the outcome of the vote. However, efforts to locate him at the site and attempts to conduct a telephone interview were unsuccessful.