PNP Region 3 chair warns internal Golding detractors to fall in line or leave
Published:Tuesday | February 25, 2025 | 2:33 AMKimone Francis/Senior Staff Reporter -
Trouble is brewing in Region 3 of the opposition People’s National Party (PNP) amid allegations by chairman Dennis Gordon that persons are seeking to undermine his and leader Mark Golding’s efforts to take state power.
In a brief address to PNP supporters on Sunday in St Andrew West Rural, where the party presented Joan Gordon-Webley as the prospective candidate for the general election due by September this year, Gordon called for unity in the region.
Region 3, the PNP's most powerful region, comprises Kingston and St Andrew. The party holds six constituencies and is seeking to add four to that tally.
Gordon said Gordon-Webley addressed the matter during a meeting of the regional executive council earlier in the day but noted that he was bringing it to the attention of PNP supporters and Golding, who was seated on the platform.
“Those persons who continue to undermine… and undermine even your elevation to be prime minister of this country, we’re going to take action. Time come now; it has to stop,” said Gordon.
“I don’t care who you are. I don’t care about your history. I am appealing for unity and I’m saying now that, comrade leader, all is not well in some of our constituencies and as your regional chair I am going to forward them to you. If they can’t fall in line then, they give you a chance and leave and I have no apologies for that,” he continued, noting that the matter “a eat out me belly”.
Declaring that he is not going to lose and has never lost anything in his life, Gordon, who in December withdrew from the Building and Town Planning Committee of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation amid a probe surrounding breaches at a building constructed by his company in St Andrew, said he is seeking to increase the party’s seats in the region to 10.
He identified St Andrew West Rural, held by the Jamaica Labour Party’s Juliet Cuthbert Flynn since February 2016, as one of the four he is gunning for. The JLP has won four of the last five elections in that constituency.
The opposition party is also seeking to unseat Finance Minister Fayval Williams, who has served two terms in St Andrew Eastern, fielding business executive Patricia Duncan Sutherland.
Since 1944, St Andrew Eastern has been held by the JLP seven times and the PNP six.
The party is also expecting to wrestle back Kingston Central from the JLP, after a surprise defeat in the 2020 general election. It was the first time since 1989, that the seat was being won by the JLP.
Over the last five election cycles in St Andrew East Rural, the JLP has won four times to the PNP’s one, a ratio Gordon wants to adjust.
“So, we’re taking back the two sides. We’re taking the western side, the eastern side and then we come to Steve McGregor in Central Kingston. So, if you have six plus four it equals to 10 and we’re targeting 10.
“What we need to do is to continue to do the political work [and] canvass. Today, I am proud to announce that we have identified 150 canvassers across the region who will be going into every constituency to assist,” said Gordon.
He said all 15 constituencies within the region will be audited to ensure acceptable statuses for the election.
“I’m sending the message that region three is ready so anytime you want to fly the gate, fly the gate and test we. Region 3 is the mighty region and we’re going to deliver for Comrade Golding to take his rightful place in Jamaica House…” Gordon said.